Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

High Faeroes 1040 expected Malin 1036 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 31 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: North backing northwest later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: North backing northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: North backing northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: North backing northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: North backing northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Northeast backing northwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Northeast backing northwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but northerly 3 or 4 at first in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in south.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, variable 2 to 4. In north, east or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, slight or moderate. in north, moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, showers, perhaps thundery. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Westerly gale 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 4 to 6 later, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in far north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Westerly gale 8 expected later

Wind: West 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 29 Dec 2025

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.