Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low FitzRoy 999 expected Biscay 1010 by midnight tonight. High Rockall 1019 expected Germany 1021 by same time. Low northwest of Iceland 997 expected northeast of Iceland 982 by that time

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Fri 13 Nov 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Nov 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 14 Nov 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 22:09 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 22:09 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8 backing west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 04:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 04:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northeast, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: North 4 or 5, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northeast veering southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northeast veering southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northeast veering southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 00:15 UTC)

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly west or northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: East 4 or 5 veering south 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northeast 2 to 5, veering south 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northeast 2 to 5, veering south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southeast 2 to 4, veering south 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: West 3 to 5 backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: West 3 to 5 backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough, but smooth or slight at first in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 04:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Nov 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 04:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Nov 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 04:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Nov 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 04:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Nov 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north.
Weather: Rain, sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Light icing.

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.