Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Fastnet 975 expected Rockall 985 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly, 4 to 6 in northeast, but in southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly mainly 5 or 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 5 or 6, backing east 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 5 or 6, backing east 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 5 or 6, backing east 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northeast, very rough or high in southwest.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Westerly gale force 8 increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly, then veering northwesterly later, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 later in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in northwest, backing westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 backing westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in west, then backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high for a time.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Westerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in west, then backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high for a time.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: High at first in far south, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming moderate or rough in north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing westerly imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: High at first in far south, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming moderate or rough in north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northwest and slight in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In southwest, westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. In northeast, cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southwest, squally showers. In northeast, showers.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate or poor. In northeast, moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In southwest, cyclonic 3 to 5. In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

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

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in southeast and 5 elsewhere.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.