Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Faeroes 989 losing its identity midday tomorrow. High 1024 FitzRoy expected 1027 Plymouth

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 05 Sep 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 10:41 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: West, veering northwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: West, veering northwest later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: West, veering northwest later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, veering northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate until later in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: West becoming cyclonic, then becoming south or southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West 5 or 6, backing southwest 4 or 5, then backing southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: West 5 or 6, backing southwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or 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.