Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

New low expected FitzRoy 976 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 30 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: Southeasterly, 5 to 7 throughout in northeast, but elsewhere 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 04:01 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

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

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Southeast, veering south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southeast, veering south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
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: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Biscay

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in west.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

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

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

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: Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming high or very high.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 04:01 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southwest, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high occasionally very high.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

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

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly soon

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
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.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 11:42 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south, decreasing 4 to 6 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in south.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

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.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: 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.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later in west.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

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

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 except in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later 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: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

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

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.