Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low 250 miles west of Bailey 958 expected Bailey 975 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 19 Dec 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly, backing southeasterly for a time, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering southwesterly later

Wind: Southwesterly, backing southeasterly for a time, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering southwesterly later

Wind: Southwesterly, backing southeasterly for a time, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic, then southwest later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic, then southwest later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic, then southwest later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic, then southwest later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southerly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic, then southwest later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 now backed southerly, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Southerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 04:42 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southerly severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale now ceased but southerly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 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: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 backing southerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 at first in northwest, otherwise southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: In northwest, southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 4 to 6. In southeast, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: In northwest, mainly very rough or high. in southeast, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest.
Weather: In northwest, rain then showers. In southeast, rain.
Visibility: In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor. In southeast, good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Wind: In southeast, variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later. In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6 veering northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west. in northwest, rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 at first in east, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: High.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7 veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7 veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northeast, high in southwest.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7 veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: High occasionally very high.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: High occasionally very high.
Weather: Squally thundery showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 now backed southerly, veering southwesterly soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in west.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Severe gale force 9 now backed southerly and decreased gale force 8

Wind: In south, southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 6 to gale 8. In north, southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: In south, very high becoming very rough or high. in north, very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: In south, moderate or poor. In north, moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in southeast, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025

Gale force 8 backing southerly imminent

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Poor, becoming 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.