Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Shannon 989 expected Rockall 977 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 21 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first and 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: In northeast, moderate or rough, becoming very rough later, but in southwest, slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first and 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first and 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first and 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6 backing east 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Slight at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight until later in southeast, otherwise slight or moderate, but occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In northwest, southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6 for a time. In southeast, southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in northwest.
Weather: In northwest, rain or showers. In southeast, showers.
Visibility: In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor. In southeast, good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast but rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers, then rain in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in northwest.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic or southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeast, veering south or southwest for a time, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first and 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Southeast, veering south or southwest for a time, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first and 5 later.
Sea state: In northeast, moderate or rough occasionally very rough, but in southwest, very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Southeast, veering south or southwest for a time, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first and 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 backing northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 16:08 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In south, easterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. In north, easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: In south, very rough, becoming rough later. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, rain. In north, rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.