Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Skagerrak 1007 expected Baltic sea 1006 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Wed 22 Jul 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 Jul 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

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

Thames

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northerly 4 or 5 at first in west, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Mainly northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, but variable 3 or less in far northeast.
Sea state: Rough at first in far northwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers in northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in northwest.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers in southwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later near land.

Sole

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shannon

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northwest backing west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Northwest backing west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.