Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low 100 miles northeast of Iceland 1002 expected 150 miles north of Norwegian Basin 1003 by same time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Fri 14 Aug 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 14 Aug 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 15 Aug 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly veering northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, but moderate at first in north.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Forties

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Forth

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Tyne

Wind: North or northwest, becoming variable at times, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: North or northwest, becoming variable at times, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: South 2 to 4, veering northwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: South 2 to 4, veering northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable, becoming northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Thames

Wind: Variable, becoming northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Dover

Wind: Variable, becoming northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Wight

Wind: Variable, becoming northeast later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Portland

Wind: Variable, becoming north or northwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable, becoming north or northwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: West veering north or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: West veering north 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: West veering north 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: West veering north 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing west 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: West or southwest, veering west or northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: West or southwest, veering west or northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 to 6 for a time in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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.