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 11:30 (UTC) on Fri 20 Mar 2026 for the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 20 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026 .

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

The general synopsis at 0600

High Dogger 1026 dissipating

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking

South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

North Utsire

Southerly 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough in north. Drizzle later, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

South Utsire

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

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate in Forties and east Cromarty, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fog patches except in Cromarty. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor except in Cromarty

Fisher, German Bight, Humber

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later in Fisher. Slight, occasionally moderate in Fisher and smooth in Humber. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay

Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south Biscay. Smooth or slight in Thames, Dover and Wight, slight or moderate elsewhere. Mainly fair. Moderate or good

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Easterly or southeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 in far southeast. Moderate or rough. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

South FitzRoy

Cyclonic mainly easterly, becoming northeasterly later, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first

North FitzRoy, Sole

Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 or 3 later in Sole. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good

Lundy, Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first. Smooth or slight. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Shannon

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

Northwest Rockall

Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Very rough, occasionally rough at first. Rain at first. Moderate or good

Southeast Rockall, Malin

Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. Showers. Moderate or good

Hebrides

West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later. Rough or very rough, becoming high at times in far north. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Bailey

Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north. Very rough or high. Rain at first in southeast, otherwise wintry showers. Moderate or poor

Fair Isle

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

Faeroes

Southwest 6 to gale 8. Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east. Rain then wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 later. Very rough or high. Wintry showers. Poor. Light icing near iceland