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Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 16 June 2026 by the NewsPrism weather desk. Data from national met services via Open-Meteo.
The shipping forecast is a Met Office broadcast detailing wind, weather and visibility for 31 sea areas around the UK and Ireland, issued four times daily and read on BBC Radio 4 (Longwave) at set times.
What are the shipping forecast areas?
The waters around Britain are split into 31 named zones, from Viking and Forties in the north-east to Trafalgar and FitzRoy in the south-west. Each area gets its own synopsis and outlook, helping mariners plan safe passages. The UK weather hub often links to a shipping forecast map showing these boundaries.
- Areas close to shore (e.g., Thames, Dover, Wight) are also covered by shipping forecast inshore waters bulletins, which go into greater detail for coastal users.
- Standard broadcasts alternate between the full gale-warning summary and the detailed area-by-area script, a format that has barely changed since the 1920s.
How can you listen or check the shipping forecast?
BBC Radio 4 broadcasts the shipping forecast radio bulletin around 00:33, 05:20, 12:01 and 17:54 (times may vary). Digital listeners can also find the shipping forecast app on iOS and Android, or read the shipping forecast script on the Met Office website.
- For leisure sailors, the shipping forecast tomorrow outlook is included in the late-evening bulletin, covering conditions for the next 24 hours.
- A typical shipping forecast example includes terms like “cyclonic 4 or 5, rain, moderate or good” – each phrase has a fixed meaning, and glossaries are available on the Met Office site.
What do the wind descriptions in the shipping forecast mean?
Wind speeds are given in the Beaufort scale (e.g., “force 5” means 17–21 knots). “Cyclonic” indicates variable direction, while “backing” or “veering” tell how the wind is shifting clockwise or anticlockwise.
Are inshore waters different from the main shipping forecast?
Yes. Inshore waters cover coastal strips up to 12 nautical miles out, giving more localised detail for small-boat operators. They are broadcast separately and also issued by the Met Office twice daily.
Can I get a shipping forecast for tomorrow?
The late-evening bulletin (around 17:54) includes an outlook for the following day. For a full shipping forecast tomorrow view, you can also use the Met Office’s online forecast pages or dedicated mobile apps.