Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected Sole 961 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: In north, southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7 later. In south, easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: In north, slight or moderate. in south, moderate or rough.
Weather: In north, wintry showers. In south, snow.
Visibility: In north, good, occasionally poor. In south, good, occasionally poor. Light icing later.

Forties

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, veering southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, veering southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, veering southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 22:00 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 22:00 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 22:00 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased, southwesterly 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 22:00 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southerly 8 veering and increasing southwesterly storm force 10 later

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, perhaps violent storm 11 later in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in north.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later, perhaps violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

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

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southeast 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 4 to 6, then north 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later, backing northeast later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later, backing northeast later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

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

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: 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.