Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 19 March 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026 for the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 20 Mar 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Trafalgar, Bailey, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 0600

High Scotland 1032 expected Dogger 1026 by 0600 tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, backing southerly 4 to 6 later. Moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first in North Utsire

South Utsire

Northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

East Forties

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor

West Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, West Dogger

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in west Forties and Cromarty. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor

East Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber

Northwesterly 3 to 5 in Fisher, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in Fisher, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Thames, Dover, Wight

East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate until later in Wight, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Moderate or good

Portland, Plymouth, Biscay

East or northeast 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in Biscay and at first in Plymouth, otherwise slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then decreasing 4 at times. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in east. Thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South FitzRoy

Cyclonic mainly easterly, 4 to 6. Rough, occasionally very rough at first in west and moderate later in east. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

North FitzRoy, Sole

Easterly 4 to 6. Rough becoming moderate or rough. Fair. Good

Lundy, Fastnet

East 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Rough at first in southwest Fastnet, otherwise slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Irish Sea

Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Moderate or good

Shannon

Easterly 4 to 6, veering southeasterly, then southwesterly later in northwest, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good

North Rockall

Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later in northwest, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later

South Rockall, Malin

Easterly or southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good

Southeast Hebrides

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

Northwest Hebrides

Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first. Rough becoming rough or very rough. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later

Bailey

Southwest 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in north. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

West 3 to 5 backing southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northwest. Fair. Good

Faeroes

Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first. Rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high in northwest. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9. Very rough or high. Rain, squally wintry showers later. Moderate or poor