Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Atlantic low 984 expected 400 miles east of Iceland 963 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in South Utsire and northeast Forties, otherwise slight or moderate
Weather: Occasional drizzle then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor

Forties

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in South Utsire and northeast Forties, otherwise slight or moderate
Weather: Occasional drizzle then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in South Utsire and northeast Forties, otherwise slight or moderate
Weather: Occasional drizzle then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in South Utsire and northeast Forties, otherwise slight or moderate
Weather: Occasional drizzle then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6 veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in Fisher
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6 veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in Fisher
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor

Fisher

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6 veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in Fisher
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor

German Bight

Wind: Variable becoming north or northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in German Bight
Weather: Fog patches in German Bight.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in German Bight

Humber

Wind: Variable becoming north or northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in German Bight
Weather: Fog patches in German Bight.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in German Bight

Thames

Wind: Variable becoming north or northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in German Bight
Weather: Fog patches in German Bight.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in German Bight

Dover

Wind: Variable becoming north or northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in German Bight
Weather: Fog patches in German Bight.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in German Bight

Wight

Wind: Variable becoming north or northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in German Bight
Weather: Fog patches in German Bight.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in German Bight

Portland

Wind: Variable becoming north or northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in German Bight
Weather: Fog patches in German Bight.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in German Bight

Plymouth

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south FitzRoy.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in Plymouth and Biscay, moderate or rough in FitzRoy
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good

Biscay

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south FitzRoy.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in Plymouth and Biscay, moderate or rough in FitzRoy
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south FitzRoy.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in Plymouth and Biscay, moderate or rough in FitzRoy
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in Sole and southwest Fastnet, smooth or slight in Irish Sea, slight or moderate elsewhere
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in Sole and southwest Fastnet, smooth or slight in Irish Sea, slight or moderate elsewhere
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in Sole and southwest Fastnet, smooth or slight in Irish Sea, slight or moderate elsewhere
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in Sole and southwest Fastnet, smooth or slight in Irish Sea, slight or moderate elsewhere
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good

Shannon

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, 7 or gale 8 at first in north Rockall, otherwise 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high at first in north Rockall, otherwise rough or very rough
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good

Malin

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, 7 or gale 8 at first in north Rockall, otherwise 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high at first in north Rockall, otherwise rough or very rough
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 later

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northwest, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high in northwest, becoming rough or very rough later
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwest violent storm force 11 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, then gale force 8 later

Wind: West severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, decreasing 7 to severe gale 9, backing south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in far southeast, otherwise very rough or high, occasionally very high later in northeast
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly violent storm force 11 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming westerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly violent storm force 11 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming westerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate to very 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.