Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected Plymouth 973 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Wed 4 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 4 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south. In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: In southwest, sleet or snow. In northeast, mainly fair.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate to very poor. In northeast, good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in north and east, very rough or high in south and west.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9. In southwest, southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: In northeast, very rough or high. in southwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In northeast, occasional sleet or snow. In southwest, rain or sleet.
Visibility: In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:58 (UTC) on Wed 4 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northwest, moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, backing east 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or southeast, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or southeast, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in east and north, rough or very rough in west and south.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 4 Feb 2026

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in north.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in southwest.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6 backing east 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6 backing east 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6 backing east 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6 backing east 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Wintry showers, but sleet or snow in northeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in northeast and poor in southwest.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Tue 3 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: 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.