Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at 0600

Low Faeroes 985 losing its identity 0600 tomorrow. New high expected Bailey 1026 by same time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 05 Sep 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then very rough later in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Thu 03 Sep 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West veering northwest later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Thames

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dover

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Wight

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Portland

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in until later in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate until later in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: West 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: West 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: West 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: West becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Thu 03 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West, backing southwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Thu 03 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West, backing southwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Thu 03 Sep 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Fri 04 Sep 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Thu 03 Sep 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough for a time.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor at first.

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.