Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low FitzRoy 1011 slow moving, deepening 1010 by 0600 tomorrow. High Shannon 1021 expected Forties 1022 by same time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Wed 24 Jun 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 24 Jun 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 25 Jun 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly in south, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable, becoming south or southeast later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable, becoming south or southeast later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable, becoming south or southeast later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable, becoming south or southeast later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Variable, becoming south or southeast later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, veering northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northeast 3 or 4, veering east 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic, then west or southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later in west.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northwest, veering east or northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate, occasionally rough later in far southwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeasterly 4 or 5 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Malin

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeasterly 4 or 5 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in far east.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.