Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Developing Atlantic low moving rapidly east-southeastwards, expected FitzRoy 993 by 1800 Saturday

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
In west, southeasterly 3 or 4. In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In west, slight. in east, smooth or slight.
Weather
In west, showers. In east, fog patches.
Visibility
In west, good. In east, good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind
East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind
East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind
East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind
East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind
East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind
Variable 3 or less, becoming east, 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fog banks until later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind
Variable 3 or less, becoming east, 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west.
Weather
Fog banks until later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind
East or southeast, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
East or southeast, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Biscay

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Wind
Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast later, becoming cyclonic later in north.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far north.
Weather
Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale 9 later

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time later.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Variable, 2 to 4, becoming easterly 4 or 5 later in south.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery later, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery later, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southwest becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fair Isle

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasional variable 3 or less later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog banks.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasional variable 3 or less later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, fog banks.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasional variable 3 or less later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, fog banks.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally 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.