Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High Irish Sea 1031 dissipating. New high expected Sole 1030 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sat 03 Oct 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 03 Oct 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 04 Oct 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Forties

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Dogger

Wind: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fisher

Wind: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable becoming southwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Variable becoming southwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 3 or less in far northwest, otherwise northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in southeast.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers close to spain, perhaps thundery at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable becoming west or southwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable becoming west or southwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sat 03 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sat 03 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sat 03 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sat 03 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sat 03 Oct 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.