Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

High southeast FitzRoy 1033 expected west France 1032 by midday tomorrow. Low Hebrides 991 and low Bailey 988 losing their identities

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwesterly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southwest veering northwest, 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest veering northwest, 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later near shore.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later near shore.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: In west slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later near shore, elsewhere moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate to very poor later.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate to very poor later.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate to very poor later.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 6 or 7, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate to very poor later.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Biscay

Wind: In northwest, southwesterly 5 or 6. In southeast, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In northwest, rough. in southeast, rough, occasionally moderate at first in southeast.
Weather: In northwest, rain, fog patches later. In southeast, fair.
Visibility: In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later. In southeast, good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5 in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in southeast and very rough at first in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: In southeast, rough, occasionally moderate at first in southeast. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Lundy

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. In north, southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: In south, rain. In north, squally showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Squally showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming easterly 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming easterly 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in south.
Weather: Squally showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, veering easterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, veering easterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shipping forecast information

The shipping forecast is issued four times a day at 2300, 0500, 1100, 1700 UTC and covers a period of 24 hours from 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 UTC respectively.

The waters around the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas shown on the map.

The forecast contains details of gale warnings in force, a general synopsis and sea-area forecasts containing wind direction and force, sea state, weather and visibility.

Gale warnings are issued as required throughout the day (for winds of Gale Force 8 or more).

Marine forecasts disclaimer

In the UK, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is responsible for the provision of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) to ships at sea, which includes the broadcast of warnings and forecasts. The Met Office initiates warnings and prepares routine forecasts for dissemination on behalf of the MCA.

Caution: The internet is not part of the Maritime Safety Information system and should never be relied upon as the only means to obtain the latest forecast and warning information. Access to the service may be interrupted or delayed from time to time, updates may also be delayed.

Please refer to GMDSS services, INMARSAT SafetyNET or international NAVTEX for the latest information. When using these web pages, always check that the page on your screen is not from your cache. Use the Refresh or Reload button if in any doubt.