Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at 1800

Low southeast Cromarty 994 moving steadily southeastwards and losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

North Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Northwesterly 3 or 4 increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough for a time later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Forties

Wind
Cyclonic 4 at first in east, otherwise northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Forth

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Tyne

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dogger

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Cyclonic 4 at first in northeast, otherwise northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5 veering northwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

German Bight

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5 veering northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Humber

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather
Squally showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Thames

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather
Squally showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Dover

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6 decreasing 3 or 4, backing west or southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6 decreasing 3 or 4, backing west or southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6 decreasing 3 or 4, backing west or southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6 decreasing 3 or 4, backing west or southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Rough at first in southwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Biscay

Wind
Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather
Showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Trafalgar

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly in northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in east.
Weather
Rain for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 in north. In northwest, northerly or northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
In southeast, showers. In northwest, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later in northwest.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 in north. In northwest, northerly or northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
In southeast, showers. In northwest, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later in northwest.

Sole

Wind
In west, northerly or northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. In east, northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
Weather
In west, rain later. In east, showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later in west.

Sole

Wind
In west, northerly or northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. In east, northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
Weather
In west, rain later. In east, showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later in west.

Lundy

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Fastnet

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Irish Sea

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Northwest backing southwest 3 to 5, then backing south 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate or rough, then occasionally very rough later in southwest.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind
Northwest backing southwest 3 to 5, then backing south 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Malin

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6 backing southwest 3 to 5, then south 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Hebrides

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6 backing southwest 3 to 5, then south 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Bailey

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6 backing southwest 3 to 5, then south 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Fair Isle

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Faeroes

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight near iceland.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

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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