Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at 0600
Low FitzRoy 1013 losing its identity. New low expected east Biscay 1008 by 0600 tomorrow
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Westerly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Westerly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Forties
- Wind
- In northwest, westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In southeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- In northwest, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in southeast, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In northwest, showers. In southeast, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In northwest, good, occasionally moderate. In southeast, good, occasionally moderate.
Forties
- Wind
- In northwest, westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In southeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- In northwest, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in southeast, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In northwest, showers. In southeast, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In northwest, good, occasionally moderate. In southeast, good, occasionally moderate.
Cromarty
- Wind
- West 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in northeast, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forth
- Wind
- West 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Tyne
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Dogger
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Fisher
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, but poor later.
German Bight
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, but poor later.
Humber
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, but poor later.
Thames
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, but poor later.
Dover
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, but poor later.
Wight
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5, backing north 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Portland
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5, backing north 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5, backing north 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Biscay
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming north 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Thundery rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming north 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest, 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise northerly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally poor, becoming good later.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally poor, becoming good later.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally poor, becoming good later.
Shannon
- Wind
- North backing northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Wind
- West veering northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Malin
- Wind
- West veering northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Hebrides
- Wind
- West veering northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- West veering northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in southeast.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 at first in south, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
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.