Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low Shannon 1009 expected Bailey 997 by midday tomorrow. Highs Biscay 1019 and Fair Isle 1017 losing their identities by same time

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Fri 26 Jun 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 26 Jun 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 27 Jun 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers at first, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor and later very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable becoming southeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable becoming southeast later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight becoming smooth.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight becoming smooth.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

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

Biscay

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

Trafalgar

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming south or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: East veering southeast later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 4 to 6, then cyclonic later.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly 3 to 5, backing easterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very 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.