Coast and sea
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The general synopsis at midnight
Developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeast, expected Malin 989 by midnight tonight
Issued at:.
For the periodto.
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
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iShipping forecast and gale warnings explained
Viking
- Wind
- Northwesterly becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly becoming variable mainly 2 to 4, but 5 or 6 at first in east, then becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Forties
- Wind
- In east, northwesterly becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later. In west, variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later in west.
- Visibility
- In east, good, occasionally moderate. In west, good, occasionally poor later.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Forth
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Tyne
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Dogger
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Fisher
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly mainly 3 to 5, but 6 at first in northeast, then backing southerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
German Bight
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Humber
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Thames
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Dover
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Wight
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5 backing south 5 to 7, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in south but moderate or rough in north.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Portland
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5 backing south 5 to 7, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in south but moderate or rough in north.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Plymouth
- Gale warning
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first.
- Weather
- Fair then rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Biscay
- Gale warning
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. In southeast, variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first. in southeast, slight, becoming slight or moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- In northwest, fair then rain then showers. In southeast, fair then rain.
- Visibility
- In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first. In southeast, good, becoming moderate or poor.
Trafalgar
Forecast issued:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Rain later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate later in northwest.
FitzRoy
- Gale warning
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- In southeast, variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. In northwest, southerly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate, occasionally rough. in northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, fair then rain. In northwest, rain then showers.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good, becoming moderate or poor. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Gale warning
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southerly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Gale warning
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southerly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fastnet
- Gale warning
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southerly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Irish Sea
- Gale warning
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Shannon
- Gale warning
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 at first in east, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Poor at first in east, otherwise moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeast becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Malin
- Wind
- Southeast becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Southeast becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southeast becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Variable 3 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, then backing easterly or northeasterly, increasing 7 at times later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southeasterly backing easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southeasterly backing easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- 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).
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
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.
