Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Ireland 983 losing its identity

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 14 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeast backing north or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in west.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Northeast backing north or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in west.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Northeast backing north or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain, snow or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight in east.
Weather: Rain, snow or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight in east.
Weather: Rain, snow or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain, snow or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: East 2 to 4 backing northeast 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate until later in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, then decreasing 6 again later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in northeast, becoming very rough or high in southwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

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

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In east, cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9. In west, northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: In east, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. in west, rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: In east, rain or showers. In west, thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

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

Wind: In west, northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. In east, cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: In west, thundery showers. In east, rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

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

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northeast 6 to gale 8, backing northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering northerly soon

Wind: North 6 to gale 8 becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 at first in southeast, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Northerly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northerly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest and 3 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northerly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northerly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very 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.