Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Sole 963 expected Rockall 963 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 6 to gale 8. In northeast, southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In southwest, rough becoming very rough. in northeast, slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: In southwest, wintry showers. In northeast, fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in southwest.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9. In southwest, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in southwest, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming high for a time later in northwest.
Weather: In northeast, occasional sleet or snow. In southwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: In northeast, good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high for a time later in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast veering south or southwest, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest and slight in southeast.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast veering south or southwest, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast veering south or southwest, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 10:12 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast veering south or southwest, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 veering southerly soon

Wind: Southeast veering south or southwest, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time at first, and occasionally storm 10 at first in northwest, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering southwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time at first in northwest, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough at first in far southeast, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Storm force 10 backing southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 at first in north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing northwesterly and increasing storm force 10 imminent, increasing violent storm force 11 soon

Wind: Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 becoming southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: High or very high at first in east, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected imminent increasing severe gale force 9 soon, veering southerly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, veering westerly and increasing violent storm force 11 soon

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8, increasing severe gale force 9 soon, increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Cyclonic mainly southeast gale 8 to storm 10, veering south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 imminent, backing northwesterly and increasing violent storm force 11 soon

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing northeasterly imminent, veering easterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: Southeast gale 8 to storm 10, veering south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high in west, rough or very rough in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing easterly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first, then increasing storm 10 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing easterly imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon, increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first, then increasing storm 10 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Gale force 8 backing easterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
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.