Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New high expected Sole 1030 by midday Saturday

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Fri 22 May 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 22 May 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 23 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6, veering southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6, veering southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly veering westerly or southwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, possibly thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers, possibly thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers, possibly thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers, possibly thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers, possibly thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers, possibly thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight near shore.
Weather: Thundery showers in southwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6 in far southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers at first in far northeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in west.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches in east, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east until later.

Lundy

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Shannon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but northeasterly 5 or 6 at first in west, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.