Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low west Shannon 974 expected Irish Sea 975 by midnight tonight. New low expected Dover 974 by same time

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Wed 11 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 11 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Wed 11 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Wed 11 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, fog patches at first in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, occasionally very poor at first.

Humber

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: West becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: West becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering and increasing westerly storm force 10 later

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 11 Feb 2026

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering westerly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Wed 11 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Wed 11 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: East 5 to 7, backing north or northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: East 5 to 7, backing north or northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
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.