Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midday

High Skagerrak 1033 expected Faeroes 1038 by midday Thursday.

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Wed 2 Apr 2025.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 2 Apr 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 3 Apr 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: East 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: East 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

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

German Bight

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast veering southeast later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Wed 2 Apr 2025

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 1 Apr 2025

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, perhaps gale 8 for a time in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Rain or showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shannon

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

Rockall

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

Malin

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic becoming east later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
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).

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.