Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Sole 975 expected Irish Sea 991 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

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

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9. In southwest, southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest.
Sea state: In northeast, rough or very rough. in southwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: In northeast, occasional snow. In southwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: In northeast, good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:41 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, perhaps wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, perhaps wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough until later, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far west, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west.
Weather: Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 now backed westerly and decreased severe gale force 9

Wind: West or northwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:41 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Wind: Mainly westerly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southwesterly violent storm force 11 now decreased storm force 10, veering westerly and decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: West or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 now backed westerly and decreased severe gale force 9

Wind: West or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: East becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: In southwest, cyclonic 4 to 6. In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7 decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: In southwest, occasional rain. In northeast, showers.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7 decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7 decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 11:20 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, backing northeasterly 5 or 6 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or 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.