Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Highs southwest German Bight 1021 and southeast Shannon 1020 both dissipating

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Thu 09 Jul 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 09 Jul 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 10 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first in west and north.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly mainly 3 to 5, but 6 at first in far east.
Sea state: Moderate at first in far east, otherwise slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Rain later, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northeast, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth for a time in west.
Weather: Fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable mainly northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly later in east, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly becoming cyclonic, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in north.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in west and 6 at times in southeast.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in south, northeasterly 3 to 5 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in northeast, moderate in southwest.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain in northwest, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough until later in northwest, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate at first in north and east, otherwise rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.