Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low west Rockall 961 moving away slowly west-northwestwards

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 6 to gale 8. In northeast, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough, occasionally rough later. in northeast, moderate or rough.
Weather: In southwest, occasional rain or snow. In northeast, fair.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In northeast, good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. In southwest, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest.
Weather: In northeast, occasional sleet or snow. In southwest, rain at times.
Visibility: In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in east but becoming moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough until later in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, backing easterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northeast.
Sea state: Rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, backing easterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest backing south 3 to 5, then becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southwest backing south 3 to 5, then becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southwest backing south, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest, backing southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing storm force 10 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing violent storm force 11 soon

Wind: Mainly westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, but becoming cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 for a time at first.
Sea state: Mainly very rough or high, but occasionally very high at first in north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind: South or southwest becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Wind: South or southwest becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest backing southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest backing southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northeast, very rough or high in southwest.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest backing southeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: South becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, veering southeasterly imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10 now decreased severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Easterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, veering southeasterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southeasterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 in east.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.