Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Biscay 993 expected east Sole 1001 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Mon 22 Dec 2025.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 22 Dec 2025 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 23 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Easterly 2 to 4, veering southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Southeast, backing northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Southeast, backing northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southeast, backing northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, backing east 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sun 21 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sun 21 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 22 Dec 2025

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Northwesterly, becoming cyclonic in east, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, veering west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeast, veering south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast, veering south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southeasterly, veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
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.