Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected Fair Isle 997 by midnight tonight. Low just west of Rockall 998 losing its identity

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Tue 02 Jun 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 02 Jun 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 03 Jun 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

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

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: South 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: South veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Thundery showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Thundery showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: West 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwesterly backing southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fair Isle

Wind: East becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight near iceland.
Weather: Occasional 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.