Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New high expected Fair Isle 1028 by midday tomorrow. High Malin 1029 dissipating

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Thu 16 Oct 2025.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 16 Oct 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 17 Oct 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: In west, northerly 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. In east, northwesterly veering northerly, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: In west, moderate. in east, moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly veering northerly, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly veering northerly, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: In east, northwesterly veering northerly, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later. In west, northwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly, then southeasterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: In east, moderate. in west, slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: In east, good. In west, good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly, then southeasterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, veering northeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest, veering north later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest, veering north later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, veering north 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later in northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 15 Oct 2025

Wind: In northwest, variable 2 to 4. In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far southeast.
Sea state: In northwest, moderate. in southeast, slight or moderate.
Weather: In northwest, fog patches in east. In southeast, mainly fair.
Visibility: In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east. In southeast, good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, variable 3 or less in southeast, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6. In north, southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, slight or moderate. in north, moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: In south, fog patches in southeast. In north, rain later in west.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good, occasionally very poor in southeast. In north, good, occasionally poor later in west.

Sole

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in west.

Lundy

Wind: East veering southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East veering southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east.
Weather: Showers, rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in west.

Rockall

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, perhaps gale 8 later in west. In northeast, southeasterly 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east. in northeast, slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
Weather: In southwest, showers, rain later in west. In northeast, occasional drizzle.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor later in west. In northeast, good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: Variable becoming southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable becoming southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Variable becoming southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: North 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.