Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New lows expected just west of Bailey 985, Rockall 986 and Humber 994 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed southeasterly

Wind: Southerly, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed southeasterly

Wind: Southerly, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In east, southerly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. In west, southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. in west, slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: In east, rain or showers. In west, showers.
Visibility: In east, moderate or good, occasionally poor. In west, good occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 4 to 6, increasing 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 4 to 6, increasing 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Humber

Wind: South, becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Thames

Wind: South, becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Biscay

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in southeast.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough except in far southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 4 to 6. In northwest, cyclonic, becoming westerly, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: In southeast, rough or very rough. in northwest, very rough or high, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: In southeast, rain then squally showers. In northwest, squally showers.
Visibility: In southeast, poor becoming good. In northwest, good.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming westerly, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 later.
Sea state: Slight later in north, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Southwest, backing south, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Very rough occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest, backing south, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Very rough occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: South 5 to 7, veering southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate becoming good.

Faeroes

Wind: South 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or less.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 2 to 4 in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.