Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected Fastnet 998 by midnight tonight. Low Irish Sea 981 losing its identity

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:59 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8. In southwest, southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: In northeast, occasional sleet or snow. In southwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: In northeast, moderate, occasionally poor. In southwest, moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far southwest.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: High at first in far north, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 now veered northwesterly, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough later in south.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

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

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: West, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: West, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in north, moderate or rough in south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 11:20 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.