Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low southwest Bailey 999 losing its identity

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 10 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8, veering southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8, veering southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, veering south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, veering south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, veering south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: East or northeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or northeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: East or northeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: East or northeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, backing south later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing southwest later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing southwest later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 5 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4, backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 18:01 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4, backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight until later in north, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing south 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 backing southerly later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased, but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Wintry 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.