Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low 250 miles west of FitzRoy 978 moving slowly southeast, filling 984 by midday tomorrow. Developing low moving rapidly northeast, expected Trafalgar 988 by same time

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Tue 10 Nov 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 10 Nov 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 11 Nov 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.

North Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

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

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in north.
Weather: Showers, fog patches in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: East backing northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: East backing northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in southeast.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in southeast.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

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

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 00:15 UTC)

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 10 Nov 2026

Southerly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in far northwest and 4 elsewhere.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming east or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in south.

Rockall

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

Malin

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

Hebrides

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, backing west or northwest 4 to 6, veering north 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then very rough later in far north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, backing west or northwest 4 to 6, veering north 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then very rough later in far north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 10 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry later in north.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate, but poor later in north.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 10 Nov 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic 5 or 6, then northwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later in north.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 10 Nov 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, then high later in east.
Weather: Wintry 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.