Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low south FitzRoy 1007 expected north FitzRoy 1001 by midnight tonight. Low east Sole 1004 losing its identity

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Wed 26 Aug 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 26 Aug 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 27 Aug 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dover

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Wight

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming east or northeast for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 2.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming east or northeast for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming east or northeast for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, backing south or southeast, 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Cyclonic becoming mainly westerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough, but slight in far in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, then mainly east or northeast, 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic becoming east or southeast, 2 to 4, backing east or northeast, 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in east, elsewhere slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic becoming east or southeast, 2 to 4, backing east or northeast, 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5, backing northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Easterly backing northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise east or northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic mainly east backing northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic mainly east backing northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic mainly east backing northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, 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.