Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low 250 miles southwest of Iceland 1020, expected 250 miles south of Iceland 1001 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough at first.
Weather
Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Cromarty

Wind
North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Forth

Wind
North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Tyne

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Dogger

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Fisher

Wind
Cyclonic becoming north 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly west or northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
North 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate, but slight or moderate until later in southeast.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind
North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind
North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind
North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind
North backing west 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate, but poor late.

Malin

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Moderate becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough later in far northwest.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Northwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming moderate in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather
Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
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.