Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Norwegian Sea 999 slow-moving, filling 1009 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sun 11 Oct 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Oct 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Oct 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest, becoming mainly slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming mainly slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming mainly slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northwest 5 or 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northwest 5 or 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate, then slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northwest becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northwest becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: West 3 or 4, backing south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Plymouth

Wind: West 3 or 4, backing south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far southeast, otherwise northerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly later in far northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Southerly, veering westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Southerly, veering westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: West 2 to 4 backing south or southeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 10 Oct 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 10 Oct 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Sun 11 Oct 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fair Isle

Wind: North becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: North becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
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.