And now the Shipping Forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 1725 on Thursday 12 November 2009.

There are warnings of gales in all areas:

The general synopsis at midday:
Low ireland 982 moving steadily northwest, expected just west of Bailey 972 by midday tomorrow. Developing low moving rather quickly northeast, expected just west of Sole 972 by same time.

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours:

Viking North Utsire South Utsire:
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9. Rough or very rough. Rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Forties Cromarty Forth Tyne Dogger:
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in Forties until later, veering southerly or southwesterly 5 later. Rough or very rough. Rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher:
Southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 for a time later, decreasing 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far northwest for a time. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight Humber:
South 6 to gale 8 veering southwest 5, backing south 6 later. Moderate or rough. Rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Thames Dover Wight Portland Plymouth Biscay:
South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in Plymouth and Biscay later. Moderate or rough, but in Plymouth and Biscay, very rough, becoming high in west later. Rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Fitzroy:
South or southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later. very rough or high. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Sole:
Southwesterly backing easterly, 5 to 7, veering southerly 7 to severe gale 9 perhaps storm 10, later, becoming cyclonic in west later. Very rough or high. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy Fastnet Irish Sea:
Southwesterly 5 to 7 backing easterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly 7 to severe gale 9 later except in north Irish Sea. Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in Irish Sea,. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon:
Southwesterly 5 to 7 decreasing 4, becoming easterly then cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall:
Cyclonic in north at first, otherwise southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4, backing easterly 5 to 7 in far south later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Malin:
Cyclonic in far north at first, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5, backing southeasterly 6 later. Rough or very rough. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides Bailey:
Cyclonic in south at first, otherwise easterly or southeasterly, becoming southwesterly in south for a time, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in Bailey. rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle Faeroes Southeast Iceland:
East or southeast 7 to severe gale 9. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in Southeast Iceland. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.