Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Fastnet 1006 expected FitzRoy 1010 by 0600 tomorrow. Low Biscay 1005 losing its identity by same time.

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Fri 17 May 2024.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 17 May 2024 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 May 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, veering northwesterly later in northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate until later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate until later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly occasionally variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly occasionally variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly occasionally variable, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: In west, easterly or northeasterly occasionally variable, 2 to 4. In east, easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight but later in east.
Weather: In west, fog patches. In east, showers.
Visibility: In west, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In east, moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Fog patches and showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches and showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair then showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair then showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair, showers later, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair, showers later, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south.
Sea state: Mainly moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 16 May 2024

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northerly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northerly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable becoming northerly or northwesterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable becoming northerly or northwesterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in far southwest at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but rough until later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly later in northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but rough until later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly later in northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: North or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic mainly west or northwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: North or northwest backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: 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.