Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low west Rockall 982 losing its identity by midday tomorrow. New low expected southeast Ireland 988

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 7 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southeasterly now decreased gale force 8

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. In southwest, cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwesterly, then backing southeasterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: In northeast, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough. in southwest, moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: In northeast, showers. In southwest, showers, rain later.
Visibility: In northeast, moderate or good. In southwest, good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwesterly, then backing southeasterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Forth

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwesterly, then backing southeasterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest 3 or 4. Backing southeast 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest 3 or 4. Backing southeast 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Southeast, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first in north.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time, backing southerly 4 later in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7, but variable 3 or less in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale force 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 at times.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor at times.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 at times.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor at times.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 at times.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor at times.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor at times.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Easterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: 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.