Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Ireland 977 losing its identity

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later. In northeast, southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In southwest, rough, becoming moderate later. in northeast, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: In southwest, wintry showers. In northeast, fair.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate. In northeast, good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, backing easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, backing easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: East 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: East 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: East 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: East 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

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

Humber

Wind: East 5 to 7, decreasing 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

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

Westerly gale force 8 increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 for a time in south, decreasing 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Westerly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: West or northwest gale 8 to storm 10, backing west or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 now decreased severe gale force 9, veering northwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, backing southerly later

Wind: West or northwest, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 backing southeasterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High at first in southwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 veering southeasterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In southwest, cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later. In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: In southwest, showers, rain later. In northeast, showers.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

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

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

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

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 veering southeasterly and 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 in west.
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 4 to 6 in northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:58 (UTC) on Sun 25 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
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.