Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Dover 972 expected poland 978 by midnight tonight. New low expected Ireland 983 by same time

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good. Light icing in far southeast.

Forties

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Light icing in far northeast.

German Bight

Wind: East backing northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: West 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: West 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northeast, very rough or high in southwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Westerly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, then decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: West 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Wind: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair, then rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Wed 11 Feb 2026

Westerly violent storm force 11 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, then decreasing gale force 8 soon

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

Sole

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

Gale now ceased, but northerly gale force 8 expected later

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

Lundy

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

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

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

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming east or northeast 5 to 7 perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

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

Gale force 8 veering northerly soon

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming north or northeast later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

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

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming north or northeast later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, backing north 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, backing north 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

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

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
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.