Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low FitzRoy 994 expected northwest Spain 1006 by midday tomorrow. New high expected southern Ireland 1019 by same time.

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Nov 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 11 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later, then veering westerly later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in west.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 11 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, backing west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, backing west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: North or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: North or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight later, except in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar (issued 00:15 UTC)

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly west, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, veering south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasional slight later in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: North or northwest, backing west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: North or northwest, backing west or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing west 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 8 at first in far southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
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.