Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Shannon 1002 moving slowly southeast and losing its identity

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later. In southwest, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In northeast, moderate, occasionally rough later. in southwest, slight or moderate.
Weather: In northeast, occasional rain. In southwest, showers.
Visibility: In northeast, good, occasionally poor. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, backing east 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, backing east 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: South backing east, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South backing east, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South backing east, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest backing southeast, 3 to 5, then backing east 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming mainly rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, westerly or northwesterly veering northerly, 4 to 6. In northwest, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: In southeast, rough or very rough, becoming rough later. in northwest, very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: In southeast, showers, perhaps thundery at first. In northwest, showers, perhaps thundery, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, then moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first then 2 later, then becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later except in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first then 2 later, then becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first then 2 later, then becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: In south, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first then 2 later, then becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later. In north, variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough becoming moderate. in north, moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: 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.