Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New low expected south FitzRoy 997 by midday Wednesday. Low Spain 1011 loses its identity by same time.

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Tue 18 Mar 2025.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 18 Mar 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 19 Mar 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest, backing mainly south later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in southeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, but mainly moderate at first in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Mainly southerly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 until later, but variable 2 or 3 at first in east.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in southeast at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, 3 or 4, but 5 to 7 at first in northeast, backing mainly southerly later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 18 Mar 2025

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 18 Mar 2025

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly, 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in southeast, then increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Very rough or high at first in south, otherwise rough, occasionally moderate later near portugal.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 18 Mar 2025

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: In east, southeast 4 to 6. In west, cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north and 3 later in southwest, but increasing southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later in east.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough. in west, rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: In east, showers. In west, rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: In east, good. In west, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 4 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southwest later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 until later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, but variable 3 or less for a time in south.
Sea state: Mainly moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

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.