Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High Biscay 1031 expected Plymouth 1033 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sun 20 Sep 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 20 Sep 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 21 Sep 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly later, 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly later, 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Sun 20 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Sun 20 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 now veered northwesterly

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Sun 20 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 now veered northwesterly

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fog patches in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor or very poor in north.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7 in far southeast, but elsewhere northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in north, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 or 4.
Sea state: Rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough at first in southwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest, but south or southeast at first, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest, but south or southeast at first, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwest backing southwest, 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest backing southeast then veering southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:39 (UTC) on Sun 20 Sep 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 or 5, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8, then veering southwesterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
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.