Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Bailey 998 expected northeast of Faeroes 994 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Tue 28 Jul 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 28 Jul 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 29 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeast veering southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable, becoming northwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, but cyclonic 4 to 6 in far southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Mon 27 Jul 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 28 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northeast, becoming northwesterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly 4 or 5, veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far southeast.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Mon 27 Jul 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

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

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 28 Jul 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northeasterly backing northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.