Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

Low Sole 958 expected 200 miles west of Rockall 962 by 0600 tomorrow. New low expected northeast Trafalgar 983 by same time

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 28 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 Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 6 to gale 8. In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough. in northeast, slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: In southwest, wintry showers. In northeast, fair.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9. In southwest, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: In northeast, wintry showers. In southwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: In northeast, good, occasionally very poor in southwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but very rough in northwest.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast veering south or southwest, 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast veering south or southwest, 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 veering southerly soon

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, then backing southerly later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, but severe gale 9 or storm 10 at first in far northwest, decreasing 4 to 6, then backing southerly later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, decreasing 4 to 6, then backing southerly later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 now veered westerly and decreased gale force 8, backing southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough at first in far southeast, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 backing southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Violent storm force 11 backing southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming southwest 5 to 7, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 veering southwesterly and decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming southwest 5 to 7, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, veering westerly and increasing violent storm force 11 soon

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first, becoming southwest 5 to 7, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10, decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming southwest 5 to 7, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Northwesterly violent storm force 11, backing westerly and decreasing storm force 10 imminent, backing southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming southwest 5 to 7, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing northeasterly imminent, veering easterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, becoming southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing easterly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: East or southeast gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing easterly imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon, increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: East or southeast gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming high for a time in far west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing easterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or 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.