Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

New low expected Southeast Iceland 978 by 0600 tomorrow. Low Biscay 1010 losing its identity

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6 backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6 backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6 backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, backing south 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, backing south 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, backing south 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 3, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 3, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southeast 4, veering southwest 4 to 6, backing south 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southeast 4, veering southwest 4 to 6, backing south 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later, backing westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: In southeast, northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later. In northwest, southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southeast, rough, becoming very rough later. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, occasional rain. In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Rain the showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8 at first in east, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8 at first in east, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 11:32 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 11:32 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:41 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Wintry showers or rain.
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.