Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Developing Atlantic low moving very rapidly northeastwards, expected northeast coast of England 992 by 1800 Thursday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 19 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

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

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

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

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

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

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, but backing south or southeast 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, but backing south or southeast 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, but backing south or southeast 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, but backing south or southeast 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, rough or very rough in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, but backing south or southeast 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, but backing south or southeast 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northwest, moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, then perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northeast.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Southerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, then perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 04:42 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, then perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 04:42 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, then perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southerly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time, then increasing severe gale 9 for a time, veering westerly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 backing southerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time, then increasing severe gale 9 for a time, veering westerly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Southerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time, then increasing severe gale 9 for a time, veering westerly 5 or 6 later. In southeast, southerly, veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: In northwest, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. in southeast, moderate or rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather: In northwest, occasional rain. In southeast, rain later.
Visibility: In northwest, moderate or poor. In southeast, good, occasionally poor later.

Trafalgar

Wind: In southeast, variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later. In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6 veering northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west. in northwest, rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough at first in southeast, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: Southwest veering west 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: High in west, very rough or high in east.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6 backing south 5 to 7, veering west or southwest later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6 backing south 5 to 7, veering west or southwest later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northeast, high in southwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6 backing south 5 to 7, veering west or southwest later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northwest.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high in east, high or very high in west.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in southwest.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough in southeast, very rough or high in northwest.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high for a time in west.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high for a time in south.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.