Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Rockall 977 moving slowly southeast and losing its identity by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

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

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good. Light icing.

Forties

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good. Light icing in far northeast.

German Bight

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Northwest veering northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: West or southwest, backing northeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: West or southwest, backing northeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: West or southwest, backing northeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Westerly veering northerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west, becoming moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now backed southwesterly, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High becoming very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Wind: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair, then rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In south, southwesterly veering northwesterly, 6 to gale 8. In north, westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northerly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northeast and later in southwest. in north, rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: In south, rain or thundery showers. In north, rain or showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

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

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northerly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northerly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

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

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northerly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering northerly soon

Wind: Westerly veering northerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough later except in far south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northeast 6 or 7, backing north 3 to 5 later, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Northeast 6 or 7, backing north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic later in northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very 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.