Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Developing Atlantic low moving rapidly east-southeastwards, expected FitzRoy 993 by 1800 Saturday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 18 Jul 2025.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 19 Jul 2025 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 20 Jul 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: In west, southeasterly 3 or 4. In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In west, slight. in east, smooth or slight.
Weather: In west, showers. In east, fog patches.
Visibility: In west, good. In east, good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

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

Forties

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: East or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming east, 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog banks until later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming east, 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west.
Weather: Fog banks until later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 18 Jul 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast later, becoming cyclonic later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far north.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 18 Jul 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable, 2 to 4, becoming easterly 4 or 5 later in south.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery later, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery later, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasional variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasional variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasional variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally 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.