Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Fastnet 1004 losing its identity

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in north, increasing 7 at times later in south.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later. In southwest, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In northeast, moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. in southwest, slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: South backing east or northeast, then becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South backing east or northeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5, then becoming variable later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South backing east or northeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5, then becoming variable later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South backing east or northeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5, then becoming variable later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough at first in west and south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south. In northwest, cyclonic mainly northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state: In southeast, very rough becoming rough, then occasionally moderate later. in northwest, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: In southeast, showers, thundery at first. In northwest, showers then fair, then rain later in west.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally poor at first. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then fair, then rain later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.

Lundy

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: North 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind: North 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Malin

Wind: East or southeast 2 to 4 veering south or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: East or southeast 2 to 4 veering south or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: East or southeast 2 to 4 veering south or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5 veering south or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5 veering south or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far west.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in west.
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.