Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at 0600

Low Fastnet 989 slow-moving, filling 1004 by 0600 tomorrow.

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

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

Forties

Wind: In east, cyclonic becoming southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6. In west, southerly or southwesterly backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: In east, moderate, occasionally rough at first. in west, slight or moderate.
Weather: In east, rain then showers. In west, fair then showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor at first. In west, good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest backing southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, backing south or southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, backing south or southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Dover

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: , rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far west, becoming variable 3 or less later in east.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: In west, westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. In east, southerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: In west, high, becoming very rough. in east, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in east.
Weather: In west, squally showers. In east, showers.
Visibility: In west, moderate or poor. In east, good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:43 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In southwest, northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. In northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6, by northerly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: In southwest, high becoming very rough, then rough later. in northeast, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: In southwest, squally showers. In northeast, showers.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate or poor. In northeast, good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, by northerly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: 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.