Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low just west of Sole 968 expected Shannon 974 by midday tomorrow. Low Fastnet 970 losing its identity

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in southwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing easterly imminent

Wind: In north, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5. In south, easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south.
Sea state: In north, rough or very rough in southwest, otherwise slight or moderate. in south, rough or very rough.
Weather: In north, occasional sleet. In south, occasional snow.
Visibility: In north, good, occasionally poor. In south, good, occasionally very poor. Light icing.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: East 6 or 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: East 6 or 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: East 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: East 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Wed 4 Feb 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing easterly imminent

Wind: East 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough in north and west, elsewhere moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Wed 4 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 backing easterly imminent

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeast veering southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southeast veering southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southeast veering south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southeast veering south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southeast veering south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far west.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high in far south.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: East veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: East veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7, but gale 8 or severe gale 9 at first in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic later in south, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first..
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Wed 4 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
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.