Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

New low moving east expected west Shannon 976 by 1800 Thursday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

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

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

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

Forties

Wind: Southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southeast veering southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 for a time, increasing gale 8 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 for a time, increasing gale 8 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first and later in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing southwesterly imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in west.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in west.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In south, southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. In north, southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, showers. In north, rain.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: In east, southeasterly 5 to 7. In west, easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east, rough or very rough. in west, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In east, rain. In west, rain.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, moderate or 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.