Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low west Sole 971 expected southwest Fastnet 979 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Fri 6 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in far south . In northeast, southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In southwest, mainly rough, occasionally very rough later. in northeast, slight or moderate.
Weather: In southwest, occasional sleet. In northeast, occasional sleet.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: In north, southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6. In south, easterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later in south.
Sea state: In north, slight or moderate. in south, rough or very rough.
Weather: In north, occasional sleet. In south, occasional snow or sleet.
Visibility: In north, good, occasionally poor. In south, good, occasionally very poor. Light icing.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional snow or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Sleet, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Sleet, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Sleet, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Sleet, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Easterly 7 or gale 8, but occasionally severe gale 9 in north and 6 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing.

German Bight

Wind: East, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in north.
Weather: Occasional rain, sleet at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: East veering mainly south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: East veering mainly south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: East veering mainly south, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South or southwest, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in south, elsewhere moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 6 Feb 2026

Wind: West, occasionally veering northwesterly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Squally or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough at first in northwest and until later in south, but slight or moderate in northeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly easterly in north, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first in north and south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
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.