Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low north FitzRoy 1002 expected Plymouth 1011 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026 to 18:00 (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: 15:41 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: In west, cyclonic 4, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7. In east, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In west, moderate or rough. in east, rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: In west, showers. In east, occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest veering northeast, then south later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest veering northeast, then south later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

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, becoming southwesterly later, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times, but occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In east, cyclonic, becoming southwesterly later, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times. In west, northerly 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: In east, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough. in west, rough or very rough.
Weather: In east, thundery showers. In west, occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Northwest backing south or southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Fastnet

Wind: Northwest backing south or southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest backing south or southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West backing south or southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West backing south or southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in north.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:41 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming west 5 to 7, backing south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
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.