Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Developing low moving steadily eastwards, expected Norwegian Basin 984 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jul 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jul 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 25 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic 4 or 5 becoming west or southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic 4 or 5 becoming west or southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Cyclonic 4 or 5 becoming west or southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwest 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwest 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable becoming west or southwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Variable becoming west or southwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable becoming west or southwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable becoming west or southwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Thundery showers in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 5 or 6 at first in south, otherwise northeasterly backing northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Northeasterly backing northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4 backing west 5 or 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time, veering northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time, veering northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jul 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough for a time.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough for a time.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: 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.