Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low Sole 958 expected Lundy 977 by 1800 Saturday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 6 to gale 8. In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough, becoming rough later. in northeast, moderate or rough.
Weather: In southwest, wintry showers. In northeast, fair.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, veering south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southerly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10, decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in northwest, backing westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 backing westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in southwest, decreasing 6 at times in south and east.
Sea state: High, occasionally very high at first in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, backing westerly soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southeasterly imminent

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

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing westerly imminent

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

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In southwest, cyclonic 4 to 6. In northeast, easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough, occasionally high at first and rough later. in northeast, very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.