Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Monday 23 March 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 17:25 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026 for the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in all areas except South Utsire, Fisher, Biscay and FitzRoy .

The general synopsis at midday

Low mid-Atlantic 964 expected Norwegian Sea 964 by midday tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Southerly veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later. Rough or very rough, becoming high later in north. Rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate

South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth

Southerly veering southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 except in South Utsire. Slight or moderate at first in Forth, otherwise moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later, then very rough or high later in South Utsire and north Forties. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Tyne, West Dogger

Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later in Tyne, moderate becoming rough later in west Dogger. Occasional rain. Good occasionally poor

East Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber

Southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7. Slight or moderate in east Dogger and German Bight, moderate or rough in Fisher, smooth or slight becoming moderate in Humber. Occasional rain. Moderate or poor, occasionally good

Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough later, but slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough in Plymouth. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in Thames, Dover and Wight

Biscay

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northwest. Fair. Good

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far southeast. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast. Fair. Good.

FitzRoy

Cyclonic 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northwest. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later in Sole and Fastnet, slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later in Lundy and Irish Sea. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Shannon

Southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 7 to severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin

Southwest gale 8 to storm 10, but 6 to gale 8 in Malin, veering west 4 to 6, then northwest 7 to severe gale 9 later in Rockall. Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time in north Rockall. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

Hebrides, Bailey

Southwest gale 8 to storm 10, veering northwest 5 to 7 later. Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes

South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in Faeroes, veering west 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough in southeast Fair Isle, otherwise very rough or high, becoming high or very high for a time. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming northerly 6 to gale 8 later. Very rough or high. Rain, snow and squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor