Coast and sea
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The general synopsis at midday
Low north Iceland 976 expected just northeast of Iceland 979 by midday tomorrow. High south Biscay 1022 dissipating
Issued at:.
For the periodto.
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
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iShipping forecast and gale warnings explained
Viking
- Wind
- In west, westerly 4 or 5 backing southwesterly 5 or 6. In east, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, then backing southwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- In west, good, occasionally moderate at first. In east, moderate or poor, becoming good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, then backing southwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, then backing southwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
Forties
- Wind
- In east, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, then backing southwesterly later. In west, westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In east, moderate or rough. in west, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In east, rain then showers. In west, showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor at first in east, otherwise good.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forth
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Tyne
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Dogger
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6 veering northwest 3 to 5, then backing southwest again later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Fisher
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6 veering northwest 3 to 5, then backing southwest again later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
German Bight
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6 veering northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Humber
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6 veering northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Thames
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Dover
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Wight
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Portland
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Biscay
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5 in north, variable 3 or less in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in north.
Trafalgar
Forecast issued:
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In south, northerly 4 to 6. In north, cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later in southeast.
- Weather
- In south, mainly fair. In north, rain or drizzle with fog patches.
- Visibility
- In south, moderate or good. In north, moderate to very poor.
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle with fog patches, then becoming fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, becoming good.
Lundy
- Wind
- West or northwest, backing west or southwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle then fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Fastnet
- Wind
- West or northwest, backing west or southwest later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle then fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- West or northwest, backing west or southwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle then fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Shannon
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Gale warning
Issued:
Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Malin
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Hebrides
- Gale warning
Issued:
Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Bailey
- Gale warning
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Fair Isle
- Gale warning
Issued:
Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Faeroes
- Gale warning
Issued:
Gale force 8 now veered southwesterly
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Southeast Iceland
- Gale warning
Issued:
Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very 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.
