Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low Faeroes 992 expected Norwegian Basin 992 by midday tomorrow. Low 1011 west FitzRoy expected 1015 east FitzRoy by same time

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sat 08 Aug 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 08 Aug 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 09 Aug 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasional rough at first.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasional rough at first.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

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

Cromarty

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

Forth

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

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fisher

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

German Bight

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 until later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in south.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4, then becoming west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4, then becoming west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4, then becoming west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 or 3 becoming west or northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 or 4 later.
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.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 or 3 at first in south.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest veering northwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest veering northwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: West or southwest veering northwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwesterly veering northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

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

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
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 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or 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.