Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Friday 20 March 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:30 (UTC) on Fri 20 Mar 2026 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026 .

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

The general synopsis at 1800

High German Bight 1023 expected latvia 1025 by 1800 Saturday. Atlantic low expected 150 miles south of Iceland 976

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties

Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6. Moderate or rough in Viking and North Utsire, slight or moderate elsewhere. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in Cromarty. Fog patches except in Cromarty. Good, occasionally very poor except in Cromarty

Fisher, German Bight

Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in Fisher. Fog patches. Good, occasionally very poor

Humber

Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good

Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay

Northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later in south Biscay. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in Plymouth and Biscay. Fair. Good

Trafalgar

Cyclonic, becoming easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly later in north, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

FitzRoy, Sole

Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south FitzRoy, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in Sole. Moderate or rough. Mainly fair. Good

Lundy, Fastnet

Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Lundy and rough in west Fastnet. Fair. Good

Irish Sea

Variable 3 or less, becoming southwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fog patches at first. Good, occasionally very poor at first

Shannon

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough, occasionally very rough in north. Fair. Good

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides

West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later except in Malin, perhaps severe gale 9 later in Rockall. Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north Rockall. Rain or showers. Moderate or good

Bailey

West or southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later. Very rough or high, occasionally very high later. Wintry showers, rain later. Moderate or poor

Fair Isle

Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Mainly moderate or rough in southeast, otherwise rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good

Faeroes

Southwest 7 or gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 for a time, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough. Wintry showers, then rain. Good, occasionally very poor

Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 7 to severe gale 9. Very rough or high. Wintry showers, rain later. Moderate to very poor. Light icing near iceland