Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Fastnet 1007 losing its identity. New low expected Shannon 987 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: In northeast, southerly or southeasterly 6 or 7. In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In northeast, moderate or rough. in southwest, slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: In northeast, occasional rain. In southwest, rain, fog patches.
Visibility: In northeast, good, occasionally poor. In southwest, moderate occasionally very poor, becoming good later.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally very poor, becoming good later.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally very poor, becoming good later.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally very poor, becoming good later.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally very poor, becoming good later.

Fisher

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dover

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor at first.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast, veering southwest for a time, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: 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.