Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low just west of FitzRoy 993 expected northeast FitzRoy 1002 by 1800 Tuesday. New low expected north Forties 991 by same time

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: In west, southerly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwesterly 5 to 7 later. In east, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic later.
Sea state: In west, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. in east, high at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: In west, rain or showers. In east, rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:59 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:59 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 at first in far northeast, otherwise southwesterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then westerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then becoming westerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northeast, slight or moderate in southwest.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then becoming westerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7 at first in northeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:59 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing southerly imminent

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, then veering northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:59 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed southerly, veering northerly soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in southwest.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming north 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6 veering north or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6 veering north or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6 veering north or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at first in southeast, otherwise showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in southeast.

Rockall

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 veering and decreasing southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 3 to 5, then increasing 6 again later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 backing northwesterly gale force 8 soon

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:59 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 now backed northwesterly, decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.