Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

Low Shannon 985 expected just west of Rockall 974 by 0600 tomorrow. Low mid-Atlantic 979, expected Shannon 970 by same time

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 21 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

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

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough later in south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

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

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

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

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

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

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

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

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

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

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering southwest 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

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

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering southwest 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

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

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering southwest 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast but rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers, then rain in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in northwest.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

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

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 16:08 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly east, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly east, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly east, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly east, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, increasing 7 or gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.