Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High Scotland 1040 dissipating. Low Trafalgar 1006 losing its identity

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 29 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly veering northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in east.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough later in north and east.
Weather: Showers, turning wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 5 or 6, veering northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Showers, turning wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering north 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far east.
Weather: Showers, wintry later in northeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Cromarty

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, veering north 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sat 27 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering north 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in northeast.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate near shore.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 28 Dec 2025

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 in north and also later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
Weather: Showers, thundery in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwest veering northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest veering northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: 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.