Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Forties 993 expected Fisher 998 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 8 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Easterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing northeasterly imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Easterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing northeasterly imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming north 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

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

Plymouth

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

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Tue 6 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: North 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Hebrides

Wind: North 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Tue 6 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased, but westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 imminent, backing northeasterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Sleet or snow.
Visibility: 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.