Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low Bailey 1000 expected west Hebrides 1003 by 1800 Tuesday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Mon 20 Jan 2025.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 21 Jan 2025 to 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 Jan 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwest, backing south or southeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Southwest, backing south or southeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest, backing south or southeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in west.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 20 Jan 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south, becoming cyclonic 4 later in far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northeasterly 5 to 7 in north and west, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough at times in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate until later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Mon 20 Jan 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming north or northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough elsewhere.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough at times in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Mon 20 Jan 2025

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in southeast, otherwise northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then wintry 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).

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.