Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

Low Viking 1007 expected Fisher 1007 by 0600 tomorrow. New low Faeroes 1004 expected by same time. Lows Plymouth 1010 and German Bight 1003 both losing their identities

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Mon 5 Jan 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 5 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 6 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming easterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7, becoming easterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeasterly backing northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Northeasterly backing northwesterly, 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Northeasterly backing northwesterly, 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Northeasterly backing northwesterly, 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, veering north 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, veering north 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: North 4 to 6, backing west 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: North 4 to 6, backing west 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: North 4 to 6, backing west 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: North 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing west 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:39 (UTC) on Mon 5 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming northerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 17:28 (UTC) on Sun 4 Jan 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 5 Jan 2026

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in southeast, otherwise northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:39 (UTC) on Mon 5 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing northerly imminent

Wind: Northerly, backing southwesterly later in northwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: North backing southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: North backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: North backing southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: North backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: North 4 to 6, backing southwest then veering northwest later, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: North 4 to 6, backing southwest then veering northwest later, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: North or northwest, backing southwest for a time later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Northwest becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers, then rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Mon 5 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Squally snow showers, then rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwest becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers, then rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Mon 5 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Squally snow showers, then rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Mon 5 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
Weather: Snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very 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.