Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low just northwest of Shannon 1000 expected just south of Iceland 1006 by midnight tonight. New low expected Sole 1009 by same time

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sat 12 Jul 2025.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 12 Jul 2025 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 13 Jul 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in northeast.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

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

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, backing east or northeast 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, backing east or northeast 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind: Variable becoming northeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: In north, easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. In south, cyclonic becoming westerly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: In north, fair. In south, showers.
Visibility: In north, moderate or good. In south, good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 11 Jul 2025

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

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. In east, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In west, slight or moderate occasionally rough. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather: In west, thundery showers. In east, fair.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southwest, smooth or slight elsewhere.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeasterly, backing northerly later in east, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate elsewhere.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic mainly southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or 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.