Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

High Forth 1027 expected Forties 1032 by 0600 tomorrow. Low 450 miles west of FitzRoy 1010 moving steadily east losing its identity by same time. Low Portugal 1015 slow-moving with little change

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Sun 21 Jun 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 21 Jun 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 22 Jun 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: West 3 to 5, backing southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: West, veering northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate in far northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in south.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: East, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic mainly north, 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

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

Sole

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shannon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in southwest.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable, becoming southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

Malin

Wind: Variable, becoming southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest 3 or 4, backing south or southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, backing south or southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: West 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing south or southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough at first in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southwesterly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southwesterly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

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.