Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low southeast Biscay 1010 losing its identity

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in northeast and gale 8 in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight at first in southwest, otherwise moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north and 3 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northwest, smooth or slight in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 to 5 later, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later. In northwest, variable 3 or 4 at first in east, otherwise southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 to 7, backing westerly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northwest.
Weather: In southeast, fair then rain. In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally poor later. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable 3 or 4 at first in east, otherwise southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 to 7, backing westerly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable mainly south 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable mainly south 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then becoming very rough later in southwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South 6 to gale 8 veering northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South 6 to gale 8 veering northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.