Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at 1800

High Sole 1027, expected Thames 1023 by 1800 Thursday

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Northwesterly backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind
Northwest becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

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

Dogger

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

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in northeast, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

German Bight

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Humber

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in southwest.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Biscay

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

Trafalgar

Wind
In east, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in north. In west, variable 3 or less, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 in north.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
In east, good. In west, good.

Trafalgar

Wind
In east, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in north. In west, variable 3 or less, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 in north.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
In east, good. In west, good.

FitzRoy

Wind
In east, cyclonic mainly easterly or northeasterly veering southerly or southeasterly later, 3 to 5. In west, cyclonic mainly southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
In east, slight or moderate. in west.
Weather
In east, showers. In west, thundery showers.
Visibility
In east, good. In west, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
In east, cyclonic mainly easterly or northeasterly veering southerly or southeasterly later, 3 to 5. In west, cyclonic mainly southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
In east, slight or moderate. in west.
Weather
In east, showers. In west, thundery showers.
Visibility
In east, good. In west, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
In west, cyclonic mainly southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6. In east, variable becoming easterly or southeasterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
In west, moderate, occasionally rough. in east, smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
In west, thundery showers. In east, fair.
Visibility
In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, good.

Sole

Wind
In west, cyclonic mainly southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6. In east, variable becoming easterly or southeasterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
In west, moderate, occasionally rough. in east, smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
In west, thundery showers. In east, fair.
Visibility
In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, good.

Lundy

Wind
Variable becoming easterly or southeasterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable becoming easterly or southeasterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in west.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Irish Sea

Wind
West or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in north.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Variable 3 or less at first in south, otherwise southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic often southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight at first, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic often southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in north.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally 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.

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