Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Irish Sea 993 losing its identity by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Light icing in east.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering southeasterly imminent

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7,occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north.
Sea state: Very rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight later in east.
Weather: Occasional rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight later in east.
Weather: Occasional rain or snow, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic becoming westerly, backing southerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026

Wind: Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Westerly, backing southerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Westerly, backing southerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: South or southwest, 3 to 5, backing southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southwest, 3 to 5, backing southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: South or southwest, 3 to 5, backing southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Variable becoming southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Variable becoming southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly veering southerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
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.