Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Sole 958 expected Fastnet 975 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 24 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 6 to gale 8. In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough, occasionally rough later. in northeast, moderate or rough.
Weather: In southwest, occasional sleet. In northeast, fair.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate or good. In northeast, good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

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

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
Weather: Rain or snow later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

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

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southerly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South or southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10, decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in north, veering westerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 increasing storm force 10 soon

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Wind: Mainly westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: West or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
Sea state: High, occasionally very high in north and west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northwest, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in southwest.
Weather: Rain or 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: East 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Fri 23 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
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.