Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low north Scotland 949 expected North Utsire 971 by midnight tonight. New high expected just west of Trafalgar 1024 by same time

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Southerly now decreased gale force 8, veering westerly soon and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly, veering westerly, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly imminent, increasing violent storm force 11 soon

Wind: West severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate becoming good.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly imminent, increasing violent storm force 11 soon

Wind: West severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate becoming good.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and increasing storm force 10 imminent

Wind: West gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and increasing storm force 10 imminent

Wind: West gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 15:49 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly soon, veering westerly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: West gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in northeast.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 04:17 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Southerly now decreased gale force 8, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Southerly storm force 10, veering westerly severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Southerly storm force 10, veering westerly severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: West gale 8 or severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9, veering westerly imminent

Wind: West gale 8 or severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, then backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:49 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, then backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:49 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, then backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:49 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, then backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough occasionally high at first, becoming rough in east.
Weather: Rain and drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough occasionally high at first, becoming rough in east.
Weather: Rain and drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 04:17 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: High becoming very rough, occasionally rough later in far east.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good becoming poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9, veering northwesterly imminent, then decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9, veering northwesterly imminent, then decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Westerly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: West gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 5 to 7, then backing south later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Severe gale force 9, now veered northwesterly, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, backing south or southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, backing south or southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, backing south or southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 continuing

Wind: Northwest gale 8 to storm 10, backing west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers, rain at first.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 24 Oct 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10, decreasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Northwest gale 8 to storm 10, backing west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers, rain at first.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 increasing violent storm force 11 soon

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northwest, gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northwest, gale 8 to storm 10.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: 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.

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