Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High south Norway 1044 expected Forties 1042 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Wed 24 Dec 2025.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 24 Dec 2025 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 25 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: In northwest, southwesterly 3 to 5, veering westerly 3 later. In southeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 late.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming mainly slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: South 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Southeast backing east, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Easterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Easterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate at first in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 23 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Tue 23 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Wed 24 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: East or northeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers later, wintry in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Wed 24 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: East or northeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers later, wintry in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Wed 24 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: East or northeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers later, wintry in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Tue 23 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, decreasing 3 to 5 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far north.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 24 Dec 2025

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5, veering northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4 later in southeast.
Sea state: Mainly rough, but slight or moderate in far southeast.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Wed 24 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased, but northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east and 4 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in northeast and also at first in far southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 23 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 23 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: East or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: East or southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: In east, variable 2 to 4. In west, southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In east, mainly fair. In west, showers.
Visibility: In east, moderate or good. In west, good.

Bailey

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in north and west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in east and very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 23 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first and 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.