Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High 250 miles west of Sole 1034 expected southwest Rockall 1042 by midday tomorrow. High German Bight 1034 dissipating

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sat 31 Oct 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 31 Oct 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 01 Nov 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly veering northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, veering northwesterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Slight at first except in far west, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southwest veering north or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest veering north or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times.

Forth

Wind: Southwest veering north or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest veering north or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest veering north or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in north and west.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

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

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar (issued 00:15 UTC)

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in far south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly veering northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in southeast.

Rockall

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Rain at first in southeast, otherwise showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest, veering west for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later in east.
Weather: Showers, then rain or drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
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.