Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Faeroes 988 expected Norwegian Basin 978 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sat 25 Jul 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 25 Jul 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jul 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest veering west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest veering west, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northwest backing west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest backing west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers, drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Showers, thundery in south, drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers, drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first and rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, becoming variable 3 for a time later in northeast.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sat 25 Jul 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 later in northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sat 25 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 at times in southwest.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 in southwest, otherwise northwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.