Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midday
High just west of Rockall 1031 expected Faeroes 1035 by midday tomorrow. New low expected FitzRoy 1010 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forties
- Wind
- In east, northerly 4 to 6. In west, northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In east, moderate, occasionally slight at first. in west, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In east, showers. In west, showers at first, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- In east, moderate or good. In west, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Forties
- Wind
- In east, northerly 4 to 6. In west, northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In east, moderate, occasionally slight at first. in west, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In east, showers. In west, showers at first, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- In east, moderate or good. In west, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Forth
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first, perhaps thundery, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Tyne
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first, perhaps thundery, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Dogger
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Fisher
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
German Bight
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Humber
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Thames
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Dover
- Wind
- Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Wight
- Wind
- Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Portland
- Wind
- Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Biscay
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far north.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far north.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Trafalgar
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Sole
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in east.
- Weather
- Thundery showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lundy
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later in east.
- Weather
- Fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.
Rockall
- Wind
- In southeast, northeasterly 4 to 6. In northwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight later in east. in northwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, fog patches later. In northwest, drizzle later.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later. In northwest, good, occasionally poor later.
Rockall
- Wind
- In southeast, northeasterly 4 to 6. In northwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight later in east. in northwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, fog patches later. In northwest, drizzle later.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later. In northwest, good, occasionally poor later.
Malin
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Hebrides
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, fair. In northwest, mainly fair.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good.
Hebrides
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, fair. In northwest, mainly fair.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5 in northwest otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5 in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5 in northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
- Weather
- Fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Shipping forecast information
The shipping forecast is issued four times a day at 2300, 0500, 1100, 1700 UTC and covers a period of 24 hours from 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 UTC respectively.
The waters around the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas shown on the map.
The forecast contains details of gale warnings in force, a general synopsis and sea-area forecasts containing wind direction and force, sea state, weather and visibility.
Gale warnings are issued as required throughout the day (for winds of Gale Force 8 or more).
Marine forecasts disclaimer
In the UK, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is responsible for the provision of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) to ships at sea, which includes the broadcast of warnings and forecasts. The Met Office initiates warnings and prepares routine forecasts for dissemination on behalf of the MCA.
Caution: The internet is not part of the Maritime Safety Information system and should never be relied upon as the only means to obtain the latest forecast and warning information. Access to the service may be interrupted or delayed from time to time, updates may also be delayed.
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