Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Shannon 987 expected west Rockall 998 by midday tomorrow, new low expected Biscay 998

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 21 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Mainly moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Mainly moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: South or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 3 or 4 at first, otherwise southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair, fog patches at first in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor at first in southeast.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Showers, fog patches at first in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in east.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: East or southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Southeast, backing east later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Southeast, backing east later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 19 Dec 2025

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in southeast, otherwise northerly backing northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 now veered northwesterly

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southeast backing east later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: West or southwest becoming cyclonic, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southwest, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southeast later, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high until later, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high until later, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, but cyclonic 5 at first in southwest, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high until later, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very 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.