Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Developing low moving rather quickly eastwards, expected Faeroes 999 by 1800 Friday. Low Spain 1012 slow-moving with little change

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Thu 3 Jul 2025.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 3 Jul 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 4 Jul 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
Weather: Thundery showers at first, then rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers at first, then rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers at first, then rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Forties

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers at first, then rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Thundery showers in south.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 2 Jul 2025

Wind: In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. In northwest, northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. in northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 3 Jul 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. In north, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. in north, moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers near spain.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in northwest later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: West 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fastnet

Wind: West 3 or 4, backing southwest 5 or 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Irish Sea

Wind: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Thu 3 Jul 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Thu 3 Jul 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Thu 3 Jul 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 3 Jul 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: South 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.