Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Friday 13 March 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC) on Fri 13 Mar 2026 for the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Mar 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in all areas except North Utsire, South Utsire, Trafalgar and FitzRoy .

The general synopsis at midnight

Low just northeast of Iceland 958 slow-moving, filling 973 by midnight tonight

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in Viking. Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough later. Rain or squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in Forties, becoming slight or moderate in Forth and Tyne and also later in Cromarty. Squally showers, perhaps wintry. Moderate or good

Fisher, German Bight

South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in German Bight, decreasing 4 to 6. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first

Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight

West or southwest 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough becoming mainly slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first

Portland, Plymouth, Biscay, FitzRoy

West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first except in FitzRoy, veering northwest 4 to 6 later. Very rough or high in north FitzRoy, but elsewhere rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far west Plymouth, becoming moderate or rough in Portland. Squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Northeasterly 4 to 6 until later in south, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north. Showers. Moderate or good.

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

West or southwest veering west or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later. In Sole and southwest Fastnet, very rough or high, but elsewhere, rough or very rough, becoming slight or moderate in Irish Sea and moderate or rough later elsewhere. Squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

West or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in Shannon, Rockall and Bailey, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in north Shannon and south Rockall, becoming mainly very rough later. Squally showers, perhaps wintry. Moderate or poor, occasionally good later

Fair Isle

West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Very rough or high, occasionally rough in southeast. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Faeroes

Westerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time in south. Very rough or high, occasionally rough in northeast. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or poor, occasionally good

Southeast Iceland

Mainly westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 until later in south and far west, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south. Wintry showers, squally at times. Good, occasionally poor