Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

High 150 miles west of Bailey 1047 expected south Faeroes 1043 by midnight tonight. Low southwest FitzRoy 1010 losing its identity

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Fri 26 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Fri 26 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 now backed northwesterly, veering northerly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: In east, northerly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later in south. In west, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: In east, moderate becoming rough, then becoming very rough for a time in far northeast. in west, slight, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 26 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in south.

Humber

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time in northeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northeasterly veering easterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: In south, northeasterly veering easterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. In north, variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough at first in north, otherwise moderate.
Weather: In south, mainly fair. In north, fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming westerly 4 to 6 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Fri 26 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: 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.