Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Atlantic low 996 moving eastwards expected close to northeast Faeroes 991 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sat 08 Aug 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 08 Aug 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 09 Aug 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast veering south or southwest later 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

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

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Southwesterly at first in the northwest, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate for a time in north.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough for a time in north.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:44 (UTC) on Fri 07 Aug 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:44 (UTC) on Fri 07 Aug 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 6 or 7 in south, but 4 or 5 at first in north, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:44 (UTC) on Fri 07 Aug 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time at first, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally rough for a time in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7,.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Sat 08 Aug 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches in northeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, but occasionally very poor in northeast.

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.