Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midnight

Low northwest FitzRoy 995 expected northeast FitzRoy 1007 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: In west, cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming westerly 6 or 7 later. In east, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: In west, very rough at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough. in east, rough or very rough.
Weather: In west, rain or showers. In east, rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:59 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 at first in far northeast, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming westerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming westerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in east, slight or moderate in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming westerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7 at first in northeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:59 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing southerly imminent

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, then veering northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:59 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed southerly, veering northerly soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, then decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in southwest.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming north or northwest 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming north or northwest 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming north or northwest 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 5 or 6 backing west 3 to 5, then south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 5 or 6 backing west 3 to 5, then south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Malin

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
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.