Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low Humber 1010 losing its identity

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Thu 20 Nov 2025.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 21 Nov 2025 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 22 Nov 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly 2 to 4 backing southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly 2 to 4 backing southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly 2 to 4, backing southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5 backing southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5 backing southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5 backing southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: North 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: North 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: North or northwest 2 to 4, backing west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: North or northwest 2 to 4, backing west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: North 5 or 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: North 5 or 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: North 5 or 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. In northwest, northerly backing westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In southeast, showers. In northwest, rain.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later, then veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Thu 20 Nov 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 or 5.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate at first in east and very rough in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later, then veering west 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Thu 20 Nov 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain.
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.