Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low just north of Iceland 971 slow moving and filling 982 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly at first, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: West or northwest 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Dogger

Wind: West or northwest 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming north 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming north 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest veering east or southeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Thundery showers later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but north 5 at times near portugal, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 for a time in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, thundery in northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers, thundery at first, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers, thundery at first, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: Squally showers, thundery at first, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later, except in far southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, elsewhere, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Thu 24 Sep 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.