Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected just north of Iceland 981 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Thu 10 Sep 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 10 Sep 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 11 Sep 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Forties

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 5 to 7, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 5 to 7, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Southwest 3 or 4, backing south 5 or 6, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest 3 or 4, backing south 5 or 6, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest 3 or 4, backing south 5 or 6, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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: West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: South 5 to 7, veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

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

Rockall

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

Malin

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

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:37 (UTC) on Wed 09 Sep 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:37 (UTC) on Wed 09 Sep 2026

Southerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South veering southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Fair Isle

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

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:37 (UTC) on Wed 09 Sep 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

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

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, veering southwesterly 4 or 5, then veering westerly 5 to 7 perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in southwest.
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.