Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midday

Low southern Scandinavia 973 expected southern Baltic 974 by midday Friday

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 continuing, veering and decreasing northerly severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 continuing, decreasing gale force 8 later

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 veering northerly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Wed 31 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing, decreasing gale force 8 later

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high until later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high until later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing, veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

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

Plymouth

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

Biscay

Wind: Variable, becoming northeast, 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Wed 31 Dec 2025

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Wind: South 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing easterly soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south and east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Wed 31 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 now veered northerly

Wind: North or northwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Wed 31 Dec 2025

Northwesterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: North or northwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, but 5 or 6 in far west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, light icing in north.

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.