Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected Shannon 994 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: South 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, veering west 3 to 5, then backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, veering west 3 to 5, then backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest backing south 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West backing south or southeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southeast, backing east for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southeast, backing east for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional 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.