Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Biscay 987 expected Mediterranean 986 by midday tomorrow. Low Viking 995 slow-moving, filling 1007 by same time.

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 14 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: North or northwest backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: North or northwest backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: East or northeast becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: East or northeast becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: East or northeast becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: North or northeast 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: North or northeast 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: North or northeast 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: North or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, backing south later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, then moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: North or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, then moderate or rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 in west and later also east, backing westerly or southwesterly later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026

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

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 in west and later also east, backing westerly or southwesterly later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: North or northeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, veering south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering southerly later

Wind: North or northeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, veering south 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, backing north or northwest 3 or 4, then south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly severe gale force 9 later

Wind: North 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North backing southwest, 3 to 5, then south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

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

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
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.