Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

New low expected Biscay 1014 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Mon 05 Oct 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 05 Oct 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 06 Oct 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:59 (UTC) on Sun 04 Oct 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in southwest.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate in northeast, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally very poor later.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally very poor later.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Plymouth

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

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 3 to 5, but 6 at first in southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but moderate occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in southeast.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5 at first in northeast, otherwise cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northwest, elsewhere slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Mon 05 Oct 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Mon 05 Oct 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 now decreased severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:59 (UTC) on Sun 04 Oct 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 05 Oct 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in east, decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 05 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: High at first in far south, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally 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.