Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Iceland 964 expected just northeast of Iceland 975 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at first, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, veering southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Forties

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Thundery showers later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but north 4 or 5 near portugal.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, thundery in northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 24 Sep 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

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

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Thu 24 Sep 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in north.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high in northwest, moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Thu 24 Sep 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or 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.