Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High Humber 1031 expected Germany 1034 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Sun 24 May 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 24 May 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 25 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first and 2 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first and 2 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first and 2 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Tyne

Wind: Variable, mainly south, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight at first in north.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable, mainly south, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight at first in north.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming southwest 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming south 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4, veering east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sun 24 May 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Mainly northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, but cyclonic, mainly easterly, 6 or 7 in southeast, perhaps gale 8 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far southeast, slight at times later in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first in southeast.
Weather: Rain with fog patches, thundery showers in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable becoming east or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair, fog patches.
Visibility: Good,.

Lundy

Wind: Variable becoming east or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable becoming east or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable, mainly south at first, 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: South 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in far southeast.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but smooth or slight in southeast.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough in northwest.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.