Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

High German Bight 1034 dissipating by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sat 31 Oct 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 31 Oct 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 01 Nov 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering northerly or northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering northerly or northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable becoming westerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Forties

Wind: South or southwest veering west or northwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest veering west or northwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest veering west or northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northeast, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest veering west or northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest veering west or northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor in south.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable mainly northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate occasionally rough at first in far west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar (issued 00:15 UTC)

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in far south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain and fog patches in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in east until later, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
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.