Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Viking 990 expected Sweden 980 by midnight tonight. Low west FitzRoy 986 expected southeast FitzRoy 998 by same time

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Nov 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 11 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, backing northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Wed 11 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, backing northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Wed 11 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in northeast and high later in west.
Weather: Thundery wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 11 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 11 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in east and slight later in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in east and slight later in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6, backing northwest later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 11 Nov 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Thundery rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 00:15 UTC)

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly west, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northeast 6 to gale 8, veering east 4 or 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Lundy

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east slight becoming smooth, elsewhere moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast 6 or 7, veering east 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first in southwest and moderate in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 backing westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 backing westerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: North backing west, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: North backing west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8 backing west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Wed 11 Nov 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8 backing west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in west, otherwise northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain.
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.