Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected Southeast Iceland 980 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly 4 to 6. Backing southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly 4 to 6. Backing southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly 4 to 6. Backing southerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly 4 to 6. Backing southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly 4 to 6. Backing southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly 4 to 6. Backing southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: West backing southwest, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: West backing southwest, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: West backing southwest, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: West backing southwest, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly south 3 to 5, then southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly south 3 to 5, then southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly south 3 to 5, then southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly south 3 to 5, then southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly south 3 to 5, then southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later, backing westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In southeast, cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwesterly then cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8 later. In northwest, southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: In southeast, rough, occasionally very rough at first and later. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, showers, rain later. In northwest, rain.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally poor. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 7, backing south 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 7, backing south 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 7, backing south 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first and later, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming southwest 3 to 5 except in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:41 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers or rain.
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.