Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High Hebrides 1040 expected Rockall 1034 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025 to 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 31 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwest backing west later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, backing westerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

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

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In east, northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later. In west, northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: In east, rough, occasionally very rough. in west, rough.
Weather: In east, squally showers. In west, showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Northerly backing westerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Northerly backing westerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: In west, northerly backing westerly, 4 to 6. In east, northerly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In west, showers. In east, squally showers.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Northeast backing northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Northeast backing northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, backing north 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, backing north 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: East 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5. In north, easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, moderate, occasionally slight in east. in north, moderate.
Weather: In south, thundery showers. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: East becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Westerly gale 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, but 7 at first in east, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

Westerly gale 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Tue 30 Dec 2025

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

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

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.