Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New high 1025 expected North Utsire by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Mon 28 Sep 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 28 Sep 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 29 Sep 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southeasterly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2, backing southeasterly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northwest at first, otherwise west or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east, 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east, 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Dover

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming east or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming east or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming east or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming east or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast veering southeast later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 for a time.
Sea state: Mainly moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming cyclonic mainly south or southeast, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Mon 28 Sep 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Mon 28 Sep 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first and later, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sun 27 Sep 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in southeast, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sun 27 Sep 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Malin

Wind: Southwest backing southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest backing southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sun 27 Sep 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, backing southeast 4 or 5, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
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.