Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low just west of Shannon 986 expected Fastnet 1001 by midnight tonight. Low Humber 994 losing its identity

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Cyclonic, 4 to 6, but 2 or 3 at first in west, becoming westerly or southwesterly, then backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming westerly or southwesterly, then backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming westerly or southwesterly, then backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: In east, cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming westerly or southwesterly, then backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5. In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east, moderate, occasionally rough until later. in west, slight or moderate.
Weather: In east, rain then showers. In west, showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

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

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming south or southwest, then backing southeast later, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

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

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming south or southwest, then backing southeast later, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Humber

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Southwest backing southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest backing southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest backing southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Southwesterly at first in east, otherwise westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: In west, westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. In east, southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: In west, high, becoming very rough later. in east, very rough or high.
Weather: In west, squally showers. In east, showers.
Visibility: In west, moderate or poor. In east, good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:43 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In southwest, cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. In northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later. in northeast, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In southwest, squally showers. In northeast, showers.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate or poor. In northeast, good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southerly backing easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southerly backing easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or 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.