Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High southwest Rockall 1041 expected Malin 1044 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sun 01 Nov 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 01 Nov 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 02 Nov 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time at first in west and south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 or 6 veering northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south and slight later in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northwesterly veering northerly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, backing westerly in west, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, backing westerly in west, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest veering north or northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Northwesterly 3 or 4 at first in southeast, otherwise northerly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first except in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Humber

Wind: Northwesterly 3 or 4 at first in southeast, otherwise northerly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming moderate, then occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain for a time in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar (issued 00:15 UTC)

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Fog patches for a time in northeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in northeast.

FitzRoy

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

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

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in north, moderate or rough in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: North 4 to 6 veering northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in north.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast veering east or southeast, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 in southwest.
Sea state: Rough at first in far northwest, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northerly 4 or 5 at first in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: West 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Moderate in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: West backing south or southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough at first in west, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6 decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then 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.