Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

High 200 miles southwest of Iceland 1039 slow-moving, intensifying 1040 by 1800 Monday. Low Trafalgar 1007 losing its identity

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 29 Dec 2025 to 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In west, northerly 5 to 7. In east, northwesterly 6 or 7, veering northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: In west, rough, becoming very rough later. in east, rough, becoming mainly very rough.
Weather: In west, wintry showers. In east, showers, turning wintry.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 6 or 7, veering northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, becoming mainly very rough.
Weather: Showers, turning wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering northerly soon

Wind: Northwesterly 6 or 7, veering northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, becoming mainly very rough.
Weather: Showers, turning wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: In east, northwesterly veering northerly, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. In west, northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. in west, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: In east, showers, wintry later. In west, showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering north 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor near shore.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeasterly 4 or 5 later in far southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in south and northeasterly 4 or 5 in north.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north, becoming slight at times in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: East or northeast, veering southeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: In east, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. In west, northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north and east. in west, moderate or rough.
Weather: In east, wintry showers. In west, fair.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally moderate. In west, good.

Faeroes

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: 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.