Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Sunday 15 March 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 17:25 (UTC) on Sun 15 Mar 2026 for the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 15 Mar 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Sole, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at midday

Low 200 miles southwest of Iceland 961 losing its identity

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking

Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in northwest. Rough or very rough. Rain at first in east, otherwise squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

North Utsire, South Utsire

Southerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in North Utsire, veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Rough or very rough in North Utsire, moderate or rough in South Utsire. Rain then showers. Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, West Dogger

Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing southerly or southwesterly later. Moderate or rough in Forties, northeast Cromarty and west Dogger, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

East Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight

Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first except in Wight, veering westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in Humber, Thames, Dover and Wight. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first

Portland, Plymouth

West 4 to 6, backing southwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in Plymouth. Showers. Moderate or good

Biscay, FitzRoy

Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly in north but becoming variable 2 to 4 in south. Moderate or rough until later in Biscay, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming high for a time in north FitzRoy. Occasional rain, drizzle or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Northerly or northwesterly, backing northeasterly later in west, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough. Mainly fair. Good.

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

West backing southwest, 5 to 7. Very rough or high in Sole and south and west Fastnet, elsewhere mainly moderate or rough, but becoming very rough in south Lundy. Squally showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides

West backing south or southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in Rockall and Hebrides. High or very high, becoming very rough or high later. Squally thundery showers, then rain. Poor, occasionally moderate

Bailey

Southwest becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time. Very high, becoming very rough or high later. Squally thundery showers, then rain later. Poor, occasionally moderate

Fair Isle, Faeroes

Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west Fair Isle and south Faeroes, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in Faeroes. Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time in west Fair Isle and south Faeroes. Squally thundery showers. Moderate or poor

Southeast Iceland

Northeasterly backing northwesterly 6 to gale 8 until later in north, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6. Very high at first in south, otherwise very rough or high. Rain, snow or wintry showers. Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor