Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Portland 999 losing its identity

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 2 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest and 4 elsewhere.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly mainly 5 to 7, but 3 to 5 at first in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Mainly moderate or rough, but very rough in far northwest.
Weather: Sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in east.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in east.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 18:27 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 2 to 4 veering southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate later.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 5 to 7, then veering southwest later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high in southwest.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

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

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northeast, rough or very rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soom, increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 7 or gale 8 increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 7 or gale 8.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southwest, rain. In northeast, rain later.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate or poor. In northeast, moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 7 or gale 8. In northeast, cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: In southwest, rain later. In northeast, showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.