And now the Shipping Forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 0505 on Saturday 21 November 2009.

There are warnings of gales in all areas except Fisher German Bight Humber and Thames.

The general synopsis at midnight:
Atlantic low 970 moving steadily east expected just west of Shannon 954 by midnight tonight.

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours:

Viking North Utsire South Utsire Forties Cromarty Forth Tyne Dogger southwest 5 or 6 backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Cromarty, Forth and Tyne. Occasional rain. Good, becoming moderate, occasionally poor.

Fisher German Bight Humber Thames:
Southwest 4 or 5 backing south or southeast 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate, occasionally rough. Occasional rain. Good, becoming moderate, occasionally poor.

Dover Wight Portland:
South or southwest 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Slight or moderate, increasing rough, occasionally very rough in Portland. Occasional rain, squally showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth Biscay:
Southerly veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time. Rough or very rough, occasionally high. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fitzroy Sole:
Southerly veering southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 at times, perhaps violent storm 11 later in west Sole. Very rough or high, increasing very high in west later. Rain or squally showers. moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Lundy Fastnet Irish Sea:
Southerly veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8 increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in Fastnet. Rough or very rough, becoming high in Lundy and Fastnet. Rain then squally showers. moderate or poor, becoming good.

Shannon:
Southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, perhaps violent storm 11 later. Very rough increasing high or very high. Rain then squally showers. moderate or poor.

Rockall Malin:
Southerly or southeasterly, backing easterly for a time, 6 to gale 8 increasing gale 8 to storm 10. Rough or very rough, occasionally high later. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides Bailey:
Southerly, backing easterly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle:
Southwest 5 or 6 backing southeast 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough. rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes Southeast Iceland:
Southwesterly, backing easterly or northeasterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in Southeast Iceland. Rough or very rough, occasionally high . Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.