Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

High Forties 1030 expected German Bight 1025 by 1800 Thursday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 27 May 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 28 May 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 29 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair, thundery showers for a time.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers for a time.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast veering south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery for a time.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast veering south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northerly in west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later in far south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Sole

Wind: South veering southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Lundy

Wind: South or southeast veering southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog banks until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast veering southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog banks until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or southeast veering south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Thundery showers at first, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: South or southeast veering southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southeast veering southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: South or southeast veering southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 27 May 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, then northeasterly 6 to gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later near coast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.