Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Lows FitzRoy 990 and Fastnet 987 losing its identity

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Light icing later in east.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering southeasterly imminent

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Light icing later in east.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Dover

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming west 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 now backed westerly, decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 for a time later in northeast, then mainly northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers, rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 at first in far south, otherwise west or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south or southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south or southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south or southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south or southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or 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.