Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected Forties 991 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, then veering southeasterly soon

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering northerly later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now veered southeasterly

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor. Icing in east at first.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now veered southeasterly

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor. Icing in east at first.

Humber

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

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

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Wind: Westerly 4 or 5 in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

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

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first and moderate later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first and moderate later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, westerly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later. In north, cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northeasterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: In south, very rough or high. in north, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: In south, squally showers. In north, wintry showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northeasterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North 6 to gale 8, backing northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 backing northerly imminent

Wind: North 6 to gale 8, backing northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming north 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 backing northerly imminent

Wind: North or northwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high for a time.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northerly 7 to severe gale 9, backing northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Snow 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.