Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

High Forties 1040 expected Viking 1039 by 1800 Wednesday. Low southwest Spain 1011 slow-moving, filling 1013 by same time

Issued at: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 04 Nov 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 04 Nov 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 05 Nov 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable, becoming east or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth in northwest.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable, mainly southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth in north.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Dogger

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5 in northeast.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: East or northeast, veering east or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first and 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first and 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first and 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Northeasterly, veering easterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind: In north northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, but in south cyclonic, mainly northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers at first in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in southeast.

FitzRoy

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

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

Lundy

Wind: Northeast veering east, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Northeast veering east, 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: East or northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: East or southeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, but rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: East or southeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, but smooth or slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east and rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.