Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low 300 miles northeast of Iceland 990 slow-moving, deepening 988 by 1800 Friday. Low northeast Spain 1009 slow-moving, deepening 1007 by same time

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jul 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jul 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 25 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwesterly backing southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Northeast becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Thundery showers in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but cyclonic 3 to 5 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Thundery showers, mainly in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in south.

Sole

Wind: North or northeast, backing northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: North or northeast, backing northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northeast, backing northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwesterly backing southwesterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 in southwest.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers in north.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far north.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Malin

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Hebrides

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Bailey

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or 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.