Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low Forties 1006 moves quickly eastwards and loses it identity by midday tomorrow. Atlantic low expected Rockall 986 by same time.

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Dec 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor later.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor later.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor later.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming southwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but rough or very rough at first and later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Gale now ceased but easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming southwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Forth

Wind: Southwest, but northeast at first, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southwesterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Southwest, but cyclonic at first, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southwesterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Southwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, occasionally northeasterly 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southwesterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering northeasterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Easterly severe gale force 9 expected soon increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming east or northeast later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Easterly severe gale force 9 expected soon increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming east or northeast later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming east or northeast later, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Mon 30 Dec 2024

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming east or northeast later, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Sun 29 Dec 2024

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Light icing.

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.

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