Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at 0600

Low Forties 1000 expected South Utsire 993 by 0600 tomorrow. Low 250 miles west of Shannon 1003 expected Fastnet 996 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Easterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Easterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first in far southwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
In northeast, easterly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. In southwest, cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
In northeast, moderate or rough, becoming moderate. in southwest, moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
In northeast, thundery showers. In southwest, thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
In northeast, good, occasionally poor. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forties

Wind
In northeast, easterly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. In southwest, cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
In northeast, moderate or rough, becoming moderate. in southwest, moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
In northeast, thundery showers. In southwest, thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
In northeast, good, occasionally poor. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in southwest but moderate occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forth

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwesterly 4 to 6, then becoming variable 3 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Tyne

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwesterly 4 to 6, then becoming variable 3 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dogger

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fisher

Wind
South or southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, but occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic mainly westerly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In south, cyclonic mainly westerly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later. In north, cyclonic mainly westerly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in north.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In south, cyclonic mainly westerly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later. In north, cyclonic mainly westerly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in north.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic mainly westerly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6, then becoming northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in south.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7 for a time in south, perhaps gale 8 for a time later in southwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in south.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind
Northwest backing north or northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind
North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind
North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind
Northeast backing north, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Northeast backing north, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5 in east.
Sea state
Slight, becoming moderate in southeast.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

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.

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