Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low 400 miles west of Shannon 977 expected southwestern Ireland 974 by 1800 Wednesday. Low Rockall 981 moving away slowly northwestwards

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 21 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south and 5 in northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high in southwest.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in far southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later. In southwest, easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: In northeast, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. in southwest, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high later in north.
Weather: In northeast, occasional rain or sleet. In southwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high later in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

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

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

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

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

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

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, then sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In north, easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times. In south, southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In north, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. in south, slight or moderate, occasionally rough except in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest backing southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Southwest backing southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, veering westerly 7 to severe gale 9 later in southwest but becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in southwest.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 veering northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in north.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon, veering northwesterly later

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest later, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high in west.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: South 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 then northwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate in east, rough or very rough in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 02:01 (UTC) on Wed 21 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, backing east or southeast 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but northerly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in south, and later also in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in south and west.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 veering southeasterly imminent

Wind: Cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

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

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now veered southeasterly

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
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.