Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

New lows expected southeastern England 995 and west Sole 972 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 2 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:49 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest and 4 elsewhere.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 7 or gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 7 or gale 8. In southwest, southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: In northeast, occasional sleet or snow. In southwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7. In northeast, southeasterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate or rough. in northeast, rough.
Weather: In southwest, occasional rain. In northeast, occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, moderate or poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Mainly moderate or rough, but very rough in far northwest.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in east.

German Bight

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Mainly moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in east.

Humber

Wind: Southeast or cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northeast, slight or moderate in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeast or cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southeast or cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southeast or cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southeast or cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional ran.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional ran.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in southwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

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

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northwest 3 to 5, becoming east 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northwest 3 to 5, becoming east 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northeast, very rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northwest 3 to 5, becoming east 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Variable 3 or 4 becoming southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high in west and rough in east.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later, then increasing 7 later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.