Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low southern Norway 1006 expected southern Sweden 1001 by 1800 Saturday. Low southern England 1015 losing its identity

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 17 Jul 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 Jul 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Fri 17 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Fri 17 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Fri 17 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Thundery showers later in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 17 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough, occasionally very rough in far east.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 17 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Thundery showers later in northeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: North or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5.
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, becoming northerly 3 to 5 in west.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later near the algarve.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers in west.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in south.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far southeast.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: North, backing west later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in northwest.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
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.