Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low Iberia 1008 expected Biscay 1014 by 1800 Sunday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Occasional rain, 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: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
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: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable, mainly southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable, mainly southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable, mainly southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable, mainly southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly backing westerly later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in south. In northwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, moderate or rough.
Weather: In southeast, showers. In northwest, rain later.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Lundy

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Malin

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeast 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later in west.
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.