Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low just west of FitzRoy 977 expected east Sole 959 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 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 Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, but 4 to 6 in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northeast, but elsewhere very rough occasionally high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough occasionally high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough occasionally high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough occasionally high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in south and east.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 04:06 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 6 to gale.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 11:34 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly severe gale force 9 expected soon, veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing gale 8 to storm 10.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Westerly gale force 8 veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then backing northwesterly later in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high in northwest and rough in southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Violent storm force 11 veering westerly imminent

Wind: Cyclonic mainly westerly, gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in north.
Sea state: High or very high, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but easterly gale force 8 expected soon, backing northerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, then increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 04:06 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming east or northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 04:06 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming east or northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming east 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in north and 7 in south, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In southwest, cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7. In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. in northeast, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southwest, showers. In northeast, occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in south, otherwise very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first in southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 22 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry.
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.