Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New low expected just north of Iceland 978 by 1800 Friday

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Thu 10 Sep 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 10 Sep 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 11 Sep 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, veering west or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, veering west or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Southwesterly veering northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 to 5, then backing south or southwest 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5, then backing southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in far northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

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

Hebrides

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:42 (UTC) on Thu 10 Sep 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:42 (UTC) on Thu 10 Sep 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very 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.