Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low just west of FitzRoy 1013 slow-moving, filling 1017 by 0600 tomorrow. High Fair Isle 1029 dissipating

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Wed 15 Jul 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 15 Jul 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 16 Jul 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: North 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: North or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

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

Forth

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

Tyne

Wind: Northeast backing north 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast backing north 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: North or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, mainly in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, mainly in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in far northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind: Southwesterly in northwest, northwesterly in southeast, 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 later in far southeast.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in northwest and later in far southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: East backing northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: East backing northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth in southeast.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest, veering westerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in southeast.

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.