Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at 0600

High Bailey 1047 expected Hebrides 1041 by 0600 tomorrow. Low Trafalgar 1005 slow-moving, deepening 1003 by same time

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, backing northwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly 7 or gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Severe gale force 9 backing northwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwesterly gale 8 or severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, backing north 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, backing north 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, backing north 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Tyne

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, backing north 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 5 or 6, backing north 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 26 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northeast veering east 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Fri 26 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 6 to gale 8, then veering northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

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.