Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Lows FitzRoy 1009 and Sole 1010 losing their identities. High German Bight 1020 dissipating

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Fri 26 Jun 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 26 Jun 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 27 Jun 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southeast becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Southeast becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeast veering southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South veering southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first with fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first with fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first with fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

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

Rockall

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming east 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: West 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.