Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Gulf of Bothnia 988 expected eastern South Utsire 987 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Thu 14 May 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 14 May 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 15 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Thu 14 May 2026

Northerly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Wed 13 May 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 13 May 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 13 May 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Thu 14 May 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west but rough or very rough in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Thu 14 May 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwest 5 or 6 becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough, then becoming very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 veering north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 veering north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 veering north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northeast, moderate or rough in southwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southwest, rough or very rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in south and 7 later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate in northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: North or northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, then decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: North or northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, then decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in west.
Sea state: Rough at first in south, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 13 May 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in east and 4 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly 4 or 5 in east but variable 2 to 4 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: 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.