Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Rockall 977 losing its identity by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 7 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Fri 5 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

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

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Fri 5 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Fri 5 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southeasterly now decreased gale force 8

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8. In southwest, southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4.
Sea state: In northeast, rough or very rough. in southwest, moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: In northeast, showers. In southwest, showers.
Visibility: In northeast, moderate or good. In southwest, moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 6, veering southwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, backing south 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, backing south 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, then increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, then increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, then increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming mainly very rough for a time.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7, but variable 3 or less in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming mainly very rough for a time.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest, backing southeast for a time later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south and slight in north.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Shannon

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: In south, southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 . In north, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: In south, high or very high, becoming rough or very rough. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, squally showers. In north, rain or showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, moderate at times in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Easterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
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.