Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

New low developing Norwegian Sea 986 by 1800 Wednesday. High Malin 1038 dissipating

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 31 Dec 2025 to 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwest, backing west later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest, backing west later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwest, backing west later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 5 to 7 in west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, easterly 3 to 5, veering southeasterly 5 to 7 later in southwest. In north, easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, moderate, occasionally slight in east, occasionally rough later in southwest. in north, moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: In south, thundery showers, rain later in southwest. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally moderate. In north, good.

Sole

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: East 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5, veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5, veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Westerly gale 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

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

Wind: Northwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: West 5 to 7, veering northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Westerly gale force 8 expected imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon, veering northwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, veering northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in east.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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.