Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New low expected Southeast Iceland 986 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 09 Oct 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest backing south 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: West 4 or 5, backing south 5 to 7, then veering west later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 to 7, then veering west later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing south 4 to 6, then veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing south 4 to 6, then veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, backing southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, backing southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Northwesterly backing westerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 in far southeast, otherwise northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in north.

Sole

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: South veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South veering west 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South veering west 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeast veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast veering west 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Thu 08 Oct 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain then 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.