Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at 0600

High German Bight 1033 expected Germany 1030 by 0600 tomorrow. New high expected Rockall 1031 by same time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Mon 25 May 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 25 May 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 26 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: Southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

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

German Bight

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

Humber

Wind: South, becoming variable later, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Variable, but mainly southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable, but mainly southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

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

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic in south, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:42 (UTC) on Mon 25 May 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8 in far southeast and variable 3 in far northeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far southeast.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers in southeast, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable becoming north or northeast, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable becoming north or northeast, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable becoming north or northeast, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 3 or 4 at first in north.
Sea state: Rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to, then northeasterly 4 or 5 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor until later.

Malin

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to, then northeasterly 4 or 5 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor until later.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest veering west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest veering west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough until later, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest, veering west later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, becoming fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly, veering westerly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly, veering westerly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
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.