Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low southern Sweden 1002 slow-moving, filling 1008 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sat 18 Jul 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 Jul 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sat 18 Jul 2026

Gale force 8 now veered northerly

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8, backing northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sat 18 Jul 2026

Gale force 8 now veered northerly

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8, backing northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sat 18 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northwesterly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in west and decreasing 3 for a time in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Thundery showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 18 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, decreasing 4 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in west.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in west.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 18 Jul 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first in west, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, becoming thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

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

Thames

Wind: North or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in north and east, smooth or slight in west and south.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first in southeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later near the algarve.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers in west.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

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

Lundy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northerly backing northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in far northwest, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: North 4 to 6 backing northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough until later in far southeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in south and west.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

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.