Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at 1800

High Shannon 1022 expected Forties 1031 by 1800 Sunday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 20 Jun 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 21 Jun 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 22 Jun 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable becoming northeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable becoming northeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable becoming northeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable becoming northeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in southwest.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Northeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later in far north.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic mainly north, 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: Easterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable becoming east or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable becoming east or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming east 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Southwesterly 4 or 5 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

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

Hebrides

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, but elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or 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.