Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low north Iceland 978 slow-moving, filling 986 by midnight tonight. High FitzRoy 1025 dissipating

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 27 Sep 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Southwest backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Southwest backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest backing south, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest backing south, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest backing south, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: West or northwest, backing southeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: West or northwest, backing southeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming southeast 3 to 5, veering south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming southeast 3 to 5, veering south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in west, otherwise northerly, becoming cyclonic in southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first in southeast, otherwise moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, tundery rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, tundery rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 or 7, veering southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing, backing southerly soon

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7 backing south 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

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

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough, then moderate near icelandic coast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
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.