Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

New low expected southwest Shannon 999 by 1800 Monday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest backing south 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional 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.