Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

High west of FitzRoy 1024 expected Sole 1022 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Wed 08 Jul 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 08 Jul 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 09 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in southeast.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Westerly becoming variable, 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5 later in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Westerly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: West becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: West becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Tue 07 Jul 2026

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: West becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth in west and moderate at first in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: West becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: North becoming variable, 2 to 4, then north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth in northeast and moderate in southwest.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5 later in north.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers in south, fog patches in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 in central area, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable, mainly northerly, 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later in east.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable, mainly northerly, 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5 later in east.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in southwest.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, elsewhere moderate.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight just east of faeroe isles.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.