Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low 200 miles west of Bailey 1005 expected Faeroes 993 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Tue 28 Jul 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 28 Jul 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 29 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly 2 to 4, backing southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly 2 to 4, backing southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly 2 to 4, backing southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Forties

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4 backing southeast 3 to 5, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first in northeast and smooth later in southwest.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: South or southwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Moderate at first in southwest, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, but cyclonic 4 to 6 in far southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Mon 27 Jul 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, then 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:43 (UTC) on Mon 27 Jul 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast, becoming rough in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Mon 27 Jul 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near icelandic coast.
Weather: Rain.
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.