Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Atlantic low moving rapidly east expected Plymouth 974 by 1800 Friday. Low near Shannon 970 expected Rockall 974 by same time.

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

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

Wind: In southwest, southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9. In northeast, southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough. in northeast, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Light icing.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

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

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9. In southwest, southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: In northeast, rough or very rough. in southwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In northeast, wintry showers. In southwest, wintry showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:41 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:41 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time , perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high for a time in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:41 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Mainly westerly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, increasing violent storm force 11 later

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 for a time in north.
Sea state: High or very high, occasionally very rough at first in east.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly and increasing storm force 10 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic, 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming high or very high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, veering east 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time in south.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: In south, cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. In north, cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, mainly high, occasionally very high at first. in north, very rough or high.
Weather: In south, squally showers. In north, showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In southwest, cyclonic 4 to 6. In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: In southwest, showers. In northeast, squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time west.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:41 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:41 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, except in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time in south.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
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.

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