Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

New low expected Plymouth 998 by 0600 tomorrow. Low Irish Sea 985 losing its identity.

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 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: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:59 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in far southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (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.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 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, moderate or poor. In southwest, moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

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

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers, then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: High at first in far north, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: West or southwest becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

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

Wind: West or southwest becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first in south and later also in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 31 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.