Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midnight

Low FitzRoy 1012 losing its identity by midnight tonight. New high 1020 expected Sole by same time

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sun 09 Aug 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 09 Aug 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 10 Aug 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Forties

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly veering westerly or northwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly veering westerly or northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in south.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: South or southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

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

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest veering north or northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5 at first in northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough. becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough. becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 17:12 (UTC) on Sat 08 Aug 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:39 (UTC) on Sun 09 Aug 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.