Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midday

Low southeast Hebrides 996 losing its identity

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or sleet at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in north and east, increasing gale 8 at times in south and west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough until later in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026

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

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or sleet at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or sleet at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far northeast.
Sea state: Very rough at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in northwest.
Sea state: Rough until later in west, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough until later in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or snow, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then thundery rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026

Wind: Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: South 3 to 5 backing southeast 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South 3 to 5 backing southeast 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South 3 to 5 backing southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: South 3 to 5 backing southeast 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in southwest.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east and 4 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southwest, rough or very rough in northeast.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sun 8 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 in west, perhaps severe gale 9 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
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.