Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New high expected Faeroes 1040 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Mon 29 Dec 2025.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 29 Dec 2025 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In west, northerly 5 to 7. In east, northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: In west, rough, becoming mainly very rough. in east, rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering northerly soon

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Northerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in east.
Sea state: In northeast, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, but elsewhere moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Mon 29 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering northerly soon

Wind: Northwest veering north, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in west.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering north 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in east.
Weather: Showers in east, turning wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in east.

Humber

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

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor near shore.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 29 Dec 2025

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeasterly 4 or 5 later in far southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in south and northeasterly 3 to 5 in north.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

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

Lundy

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

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast veering east, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northeast veering east, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northeast veering east, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

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

Bailey

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough at times later in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, backing northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

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.