Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

High Scotland 1042 slow-moving with little change by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Mon 02 Nov 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 02 Nov 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 03 Nov 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in east.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: North 4 to 6, veering northeast 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming slight in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth in northwest.
Weather: Showers then fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers then fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: North or northwest, veering northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: North or northwest, veering northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderateyne.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northeast 5 or 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: North, veering northeast, 5 or 6, occasionally 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight later in far east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: North, veering northeast, 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Fair then showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar (issued 00:15 UTC)

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in far east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Mon 02 Nov 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East, veering southeast, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming south 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Southwesterly, backing southerly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: West or northwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly, backing southwesterly, 3 or 4, increasing 5 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in northeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
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.