Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low south Baltic sea 974 slow-moving, filling 984 by midday tomorrow. Low just west of Trafalgar 988 expected Trafalgar 991 by same time

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 3 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: North 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northerly imminent and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

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

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Gale now ceased but northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North or northwest 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 for a time, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate at times in east.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: North or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate at times in east.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

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

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

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

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

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

Plymouth

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

Biscay

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far southwest.
Weather: Showers, rain in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in south.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Wind: South, becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now backed northeasterly

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6 in far northeast and at first in far south, otherwise 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers, rain in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in south.

Sole

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, but mainly moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: North 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in far east.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 now veered northerly

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far northeast.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: In east, northerly 6 to gale 8. In west, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east, rough or very rough. in west, rough or very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: In east, squally snow showers. In west, snow showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally very poor. In west, good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: North 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high until later.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: North 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high until later.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Fri 2 Jan 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Light icing in north.

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.