Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

Low 150 miles west of FitzRoy 993 expected northwest Trafalgar 1003 by 0600 tomorrow. High 200 miles west of Shannon 1029 expected Ireland 1026 by same time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Sat 22 Aug 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 22 Aug 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 23 Aug 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south, becoming slight later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later in east.
Sea state: Rough until later in far east, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: West or northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: West or northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, then becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later in northeast.
Sea state: Rough until later in far northeast, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 22 Aug 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 4 later in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west.
Sea state: Moderate in north and east, slight or moderate in south and west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: North 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Moderate at first in northeast, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in south, becoming variable 2 at times in north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in south, becoming variable 2 at times in north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in south, becoming variable 2 at times in north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in east and north, slight or moderate in west and south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
Weather: Thundery showers developing in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in south.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Slight in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
Weather: Thundery showers in northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in northwest.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 22 Aug 2026

Gale force 8 backing northeasterly imminent

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far west, decreasing 4 at times elsewhere.
Sea state: Mainly moderate or rough, but rough or very rough in far southwest.
Weather: Thundery rain in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in south.

Sole

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in south, smooth or slight in north.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly in south, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: West backing southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in northwest, and later also in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: West or northwest 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

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