Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at 0600

High southwest Viking 1039 expected east Fair Isle 1037 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Wed 04 Nov 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 04 Nov 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 05 Nov 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 to 5 later in east.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 5, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth in northwest.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable, becoming east or southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in far south.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5 in northeast.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar (issued 00:15 UTC)

Wind: In north northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, but in south cyclonic, mainly northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers at first in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in southeast.

Sole

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Easterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, but smooth or slight in far east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest backing southeast, 3 or 4, decreasing 2 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest backing southeast, 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east and rough at first in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.