Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Fastnet 1009 losing its identity

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

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southwest and 3 in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7, then perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3. In southwest, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first in west.
Sea state: Mainly smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate at first in north.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first.
Sea state: Mainly smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable, becoming east or northeast for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable, becoming east or northeast for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable, becoming east or northeast for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable, becoming east or northeast for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in east.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in south but becoming variable 2 to 4 in north. In northwest, northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: In southeast, showers, becoming fair later. In northwest, showers, then rain later.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good, becoming moderate or poor later in west.

Sole

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later in west.

Lundy

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 4 to 6, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 4 to 6, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Malin

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first but increasing 7 later in southwest, perhaps gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7 at first in northwest, otherwise southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough except in far east, then very rough later in far west.
Weather: 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.