Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Bailey 987 loses its identity. Atlantic low 978 expected Rockall 980 by midday Thursday

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 4 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest, backing southeast, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers, rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southwest, backing southeast, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers, rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, then mainly westerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, then mainly westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high for a time in north.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in far southeast.
Weather: Rain later in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in north.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but westerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but westerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Tue 2 Dec 2025

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers, rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025

Westerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: South 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, then west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers, rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Tue 2 Dec 2025

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Squally showers, rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Tue 2 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but westerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in east.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Tue 2 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in east.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly south, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly south, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Tue 2 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming mainly southeasterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic at first, otherwise southeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Wed 3 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally 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.