Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Hebrides 965 expected north of Faeroes 966 by midnight tonight. New low expected FitzRoy 997 by same time

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southeasterly violent storm force 11 decreasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: South or southeast severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in north, and occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southeasterly violent storm force 11 decreasing storm force 10 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Snow turnng to rain.
Visibility: Poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southeasterly violent storm force 11 decreasing storm force 10 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Snow turnng to rain.
Visibility: Poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 veering southerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: South 5 to 7, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow turning to rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southerly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South or southeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow turning to rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northwest, moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

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

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southwesterly violent storm force 11 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing northwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

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

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 veering southerly imminent

Wind: South gale 8 to storm 10, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 backing northerly soon

Wind: Northerly gale 8 to storm 10, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
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.