Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low 150 miles southwest of Iceland 997 expected just east of Iceland 1003 by 1800 Thursday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 12 Aug 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 13 Aug 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 14 Aug 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery with fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Forties

Wind: South 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable, becoming northwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor near french coast.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable, becoming northwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor near french coast.

Biscay

Wind: North or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in far north.

Trafalgar

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather: Showers in west.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers in west.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: South 2 to 4, veering northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery with fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.