Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Developing low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 400 miles northeast of Iceland 991 by 1800 Thursday. High mid-Atlantic 1035 slow moving, declining 1034 by same time

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 22 Jul 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jul 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: North backing west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 or 6, backing westerly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northwest backing west later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, backing west 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but northerly 4 or 5 in far west.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers in north.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in far southeast.

Sole

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

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

Rockall

Wind: Northwest backing west 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Northwest backing west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally 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.