Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Tuesday 31 March 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC+1) on Tue 31 Mar 2026 for the period 13:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 31 Mar 2026 to 13:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 1 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 0600

Low Iceland 990, moving rather quickly northeast, expected Norwegian Sea 975 by midday tomorrow. High FitzRoy 1038, slow moving, declining 1033 by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne

Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later in Forties, Cromarty and Forth. Rough at first in South Utsire and northeast Forties, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber

West or northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 3 or 4 later. Rough at first in Fisher and north German Bight, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Thames, Dover

Variable 2 to 4. Moderate at first in northeast Thames, otherwise smooth or slight. Occasional rain, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor later

Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay

Northwest, but north or northwest in Biscay, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough at first in Plymouth and Biscay, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fog patches at first in Plymouth and Biscay. Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor at first in Plymouth and Biscay

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 in southeast. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast. Mainly fair. Good.

South FitzRoy

Northeasterly 4 to 6. Rough, becoming moderate or rough. Mainly fair. Good occasionally moderate

North FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

Variable 2 to 4 at first in north FitzRoy, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Rough becoming moderate or rough in north FitzRoy and Sole, slight or moderate in Lundy and moderate or rough in Fastnet. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally poor

Irish Sea

Southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later in far north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides

Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in Hebrides. Rough or very rough, becoming rough later. Drizzle then squally rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor

Bailey

Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 4 to 6. Very rough becoming rough later. Squally rain then wintry showers. Good occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, veering northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east. Occasional rain, squally for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in Southeast Iceland, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7. Very rough or high at first in Southeast Iceland, otherwise rough or very rough. Rain at first in Faeroes, otherwise wintry showers. Good occasionally poor