Shipping Forecast
The world’s longest running continuous weather forecast, specialist forecasts for 31 sea areas covering the waters around the British Isles.
Listen to the latest forecasts
20/10/2026. Listen to the episode
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
- BBC Sounds
- Duration: 9 minutes
20/10/2026. Listen to the episode
The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping.
- BBC Sounds
- Duration: 11 minutes
Shipping Forecast information supplied by the Met Office , external on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), external.
From:18:00 UTC Tuesday 20 October
To:18:00 UTC Wednesday 21 October
Summary at midday
Low Rockall 994 losing its identity
Issued:16:25 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Gale warnings are in effect in the following locations:
- Viking
- North Utsire
- South Utsire
- Forties
- Fisher
- Thames
- Dover
- Wight
- Portland
- Plymouth
- Biscay
- FitzRoy
- Sole
- Lundy
- Fastnet
- Irish Sea
- Shannon
- Rockall
- Malin
- Bailey
Issued:16:25 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Gale warning issued
Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing
Issued:15:52 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 6 to gale 8. In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea State: In southwest, rough or very rough. in northeast, moderate or rough.
Weather: In southwest, occasional rain. In northeast, showers.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate or good. In northeast, good.
Gale warning issued
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
Issued:15:52 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea State: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.
Gale warning issued
Gale force 8 now backed easterly
Issued:15:52 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in north.
Sea State: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good.
Gale warning issued
Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing
Issued:15:52 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly 4 or 5 later.
Sea State: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good.
Wind: Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic mainly southwest 4 to 6.
Sea State: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.
Wind: Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic mainly southwest 4 to 6.
Sea State: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.
Wind: Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic mainly southwest 4 to 6.
Sea State: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.
Wind: Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic mainly southwest 4 to 6.
Sea State: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Easterly gale force 8 continuing
Issued:15:52 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea State: Slight or moderate in southeast, but elsewhere moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.
Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7, veering south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea State: Slight or moderate in south and east, moderate or rough in north and west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.
Wind: Southeast 5 to 7 veering southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea State: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
Issued:15:52 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming south 5 to 7, veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea State: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
Issued:15:52 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming south 5 to 7, veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea State: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Westerly severe gale force 9 expected later
Issued:15:52 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6 veering west or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea State: Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later
Issued:15:52 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6 veering west or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea State: Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later
Issued:09:47 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6 veering west or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea State: Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high in southwest.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly soon
Issued:15:52 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 except in far south.
Sea State: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northwest.
Sea State: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.
Gale warning issued
Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing
Issued:09:47 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 except in far south.
Sea State: Moderate at first in southeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Northwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon
Issued:09:47 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea State: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later
Issued:10:28 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Southeast 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic then west or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea State: Slight becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon
Issued:09:47 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea State: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later
Issued:09:47 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Southeast 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic then west or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea State: Slight becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Gale force 8 now veered northwesterly, increasing severe gale force 9 imminent
Issued:09:47 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea State: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Gale force 8 veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon
Issued:03:49 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea State: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
Issued:09:47 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Southeast veering northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea State: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Wind: Southeast veering northwest, 5 to 7.
Sea State: Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gale warning issued
Gale force 8 veering northwesterly later
Issued:03:49 UTC Tuesday 20 October
Wind: Southeast veering northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea State: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea State: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Wind: Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea State: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea State: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Time displayed in UTC (GMT). When the UK is observing British Summer Time (BST), add an hour. For more information, please see FAQs.