Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

New lows expected 100 miles west of Bailey 981 and southeast England 994 by 1800 Thursday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: South, veering southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South, veering southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South, veering southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Thames

Wind: South or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Dover

Wind: South or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Wight

Wind: South or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest, veering west later, 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough except in far southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: In southeast, southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 5 to 7. In northwest, cyclonic, becoming westerly, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: In southeast, rough becoming very rough. in northwest, very rough or high, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: In southeast, rain then squally showers. In northwest, squally showers.
Visibility: In southeast, poor becoming good. In northwest, good.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming westerly, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or less for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or less for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or less for a time.
Sea state: Slight later in north, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Southwest, backing south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest, backing south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 3 or less later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
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.