Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low moving rather quickly east expected Sole 986 by midday tomorrow. Low west of Bailey 998 expected Bailey 986 by same time. Low Dogger 993 losing its identity

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 8 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic mainly easterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic mainly easterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 22:00 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West, backing southeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: West, backing southeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 22:00 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West, backing southeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 22:00 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Westerly violent storm force 11 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 22:00 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Westerly violent storm force 11 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Southwesterly violent storm force 11 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later, occasionally violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, then high or very high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 16:23 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon, backing southwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: West 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing violent storm force 11 later

Wind: West 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later, occasionally violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later, occasionally very high later in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Northwesterly violent storm force 11 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Northwesterly violent storm force 11 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 22:00 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Northwest becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far southeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 22:00 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

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

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing northeasterly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very 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.

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