Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low Rockall 987 expected just west of Rockall 1001 by 1800 Sunday. New low expected Biscay 996 by same time

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 21 Dec 2025 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 22 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in the utsires.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in the utsires.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in the utsires.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Dover

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, backing east or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, backing east or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, backing east or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, backing east or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Southwesterly at first in far southeast, otherwise northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in far southeast, otherwise very rough, occasionally high in northwest.
Weather: Squally showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 now veered northwesterly

Wind: In west, northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. In east, cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first then increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: In west, very rough or high. in east, very rough, occasionally high until later.
Weather: In west, squally thundery showers. In east, showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: In west, moderate or poor. In east, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In east, cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first then increasing 7 at times. In west, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east, very rough. in west, very rough or high, becoming very rough later.
Weather: In east, showers, perhaps thundery. In west, squally showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: In east, moderate or good, occasionally poor. In west, moderate or poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southerly backing easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first in west, otherwise southerly backing easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, backing east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high until later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: In southwest, cyclonic becoming southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6. In northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southwest, high becoming very rough, occasionally rough later. in northeast, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming rough later.
Weather: In southwest, showers. In northeast, squally showers.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor at first. In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in southeast and very rough elsewhere.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally 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.