Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High Forties 1042 expected Fair Isle 1038 by 0600 tomorrow. New low expected FitzRoy 1009 by same time

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Thu 25 Dec 2025.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 25 Dec 2025 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 26 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: In north, northwesterly 3 to 5. In south, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In north, slight or moderate. in south, mainly slight.
Weather: In north, fair. In south, mainly fair.
Visibility: In north, good. In south, good, occasionally poor in east.

German Bight

Wind: In north, variable 2 to 4. In south, easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In north, mainly slight. in south, slight or moderate.
Weather: In north, mainly fair. In south, fair.
Visibility: In north, good, occasionally poor in east. In south, good.

Humber

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Thu 25 Dec 2025

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Thu 25 Dec 2025

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: In north, easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. In south, cyclonic becoming southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: In north, slight or moderate, occasionally rough. in south, slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
Weather: In north, wintry showers. In south, showers.
Visibility: In north, good, occasionally moderate. In south, good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 25 Dec 2025

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, backing westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 in southeast later.
Sea state: Rough, but slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Thu 25 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In southeast, northeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north. In northwest, easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Wed 24 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Wed 24 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Thu 25 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in southeast.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, backing east 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, backing east 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: South, veering southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far northwest, otherwise rough, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Thu 25 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first then gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.