Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High 250 miles west of Rockall 1038 slow moving, intensifying 1039 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Mon 20 Jul 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 20 Jul 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 21 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4, backing west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Forties

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

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

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first in south.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first, then rough later in northeast.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

German Bight

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

Humber

Wind: North or northwest 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 in north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 in north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 in north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Showers, thundery later in northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in northwest.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeasterly, but cyclonic in south, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Sole

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

Lundy

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in north.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

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

Rockall

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

Malin

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: West or northwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Mon 20 Jul 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, but cyclonic 3 to 5 in far north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far north.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
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.