Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midnight

Low 250 miles west of Rockall 991 expected Malin 980 by midnight tonight

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor at first.

Forth

Wind
West 3 or 4, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
West 3 or 4, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
West 3 or 4, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later in east.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
South or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

German Bight

Wind
South or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Humber

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in east.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northwest.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
South 4 or 5, veering southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough becoming very rough, occasionally high later in southwest.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwesterly 6 or 7 perhaps gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southeast backing northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southeasterly backing northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight near iceland.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or 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.