Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Fastnet 984 expected Scotland 995 by 0600 Sunday

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 6 to gale 8. In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northeast.
Sea state: In southwest, rough or very rough. in northeast, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: In southwest, occasional sleet. In northeast, occasional sleet.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 6 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Light icing later in east.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering southeasterly imminent

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

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Fri 6 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 for a time later in northeast, then mainly northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers, rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: In south, cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far south, becoming northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly later. In north, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, rain at times. In north, rain or showers.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming south or southwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming south or southwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming south or southwest later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming south or southwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in northwest.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
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.