Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low east Iceland 1003 moving slowly northeast with little change by 1800 Friday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 13 Aug 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 14 Aug 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 15 Aug 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

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

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 5 or 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fisher

Wind: South, veering northwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: South, veering northwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Possible thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Possible thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Possible thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: West or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: West or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers later in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind: North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: North 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: West 2 to 4, veering northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: West 2 to 4, veering northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: West or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: West or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest veering west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first with fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
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.