Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midday
High west Scotland 1039 expected south Norway 1037 by midday tomorrow. New low expected Trafalgar 1012 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly 2 to 4, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forties
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly 2 to 4, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate, occasionally rough at first. in northwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, fair. In northwest, showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forties
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly 2 to 4, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate, occasionally rough at first. in northwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, fair. In northwest, showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forth
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Tyne
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dogger
- Wind
- Northeast, veering east later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fisher
- Wind
- Northeast, veering east later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
German Bight
- Wind
- East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasional poor.
Humber
- Wind
- East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasional poor.
Thames
- Wind
- East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasional poor.
Dover
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasional poor.
Wight
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasional poor.
Portland
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasional poor.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Biscay
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in southeast, otherwise north or northeast, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far north.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- In south, northeasterly 6 to gale 8. In north, easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5 occasionally 6 in south.
- Sea state
- In south, rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east. in north, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- In south, northeasterly 6 to gale 8. In north, easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5 occasionally 6 in south.
- Sea state
- In south, rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east. in north, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Sole
- Wind
- In west, variable 2 to 4. In east, northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In west, moderate. in east, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Sole
- Wind
- In west, variable 2 to 4. In east, northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In west, moderate. in east, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lundy
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight in east. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, fair. In northwest, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight in east. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, fair. In northwest, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Malin
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon, veering southwesterly later
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon, veering southwesterly later
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional 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.
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