Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low 300 miles west of Rockall 982 expected Shannon 994 by midday tomorrow. Low Portland 996 expected South Utsire 997 by same time

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly becoming cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: In east, southerly becoming cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time. In west, southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 for a time.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough. in west, slight or moderate.
Weather: In east, occasional rain. In west, showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in east.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South, veering west for a time, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Dover

Wind: South, veering west for a time, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Wight

Wind: South, veering west for a time, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Portland

Wind: West or southwest, backing south or southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: West or southwest, backing south or southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northeast, rough or very rough in southwest.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing south or southwest later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough except in far southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly in west, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly in west, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 3 becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northeast, rough or very rough in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 3 becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:43 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Wind: South becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough until later in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: In southeast, southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4. In northwest, northeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southeast, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. in northwest, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: In southeast, showers. In northwest, wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in northwest.

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.

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