Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

New high expected Fair Isle 1034 by 1800 Wednesday

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 in south.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 or 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind
In northeast, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. In southwest, northeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state
In northeast, slight or moderate. in southwest, slight.
Weather
In northeast, mainly fair. In southwest, occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind
Northeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Tyne

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dogger

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
North or northwest 3 or 4 increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight becoming moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

German Bight

Wind
Variable mainly northeast 2 to 4, backing northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except in northwest.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
East 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Biscay

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
East 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
Weather
Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind
In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far northwest.
Weather
In southeast, occasional rain at first. In northwest, rain at times.
Visibility
In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering southeasterly soon

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east.
Weather
Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
East 6 to gale 8 veering southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
High at first in far west, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
East 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Fastnet

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
East 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in northeast, rough or very rough in southwest.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind
East 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind
Easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south, veering southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
High at first in far southwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Easterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in far southwest.
Weather
Showers in south.
Visibility
Good.

Malin

Wind
Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Hebrides

Wind
Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Bailey

Wind
In south, easterly 4 to 6. In north, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Fair Isle

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Faeroes

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog patches.
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.

Please refer to GMDSS services, INMARSAT SafetyNET or international NAVTEX for the latest information. When using these web pages, always check that the page on your screen is not from your cache. Use the Refresh or Reload button if in any doubt.