Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Trafalgar 986 slow-moving, filling 992 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sat 3 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 3 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 4 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Sat 3 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far southwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 3 Jan 2026

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8 at first in southeast, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed northeasterly

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Sat 3 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Sat 3 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Sat 3 Jan 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: North 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: North 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 for a time in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: 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.