Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Frontal trough Bailey to Sole expected Fair Isle to Thames by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

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

Southerly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sat 14 Feb 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north.
Weather: Rain or 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 4 to 6 at first, otherwise southerly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

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 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, veering west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, veering west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, veering west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

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

Gale force 8 now veered southeasterly

Wind: South 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Light icing.

German Bight

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

Gale force 8 now veered southeasterly

Wind: South 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Light icing.

Humber

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

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South veering west later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sat 14 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South veering west later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South veering west later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: South veering west later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: South veering west, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Sat 14 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly later

Wind: South veering west, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

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

Gale force 8 now veered westerly

Wind: West or southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in south, otherwise west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sat 14 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far north.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sat 14 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly later

Wind: West or southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Sat 14 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in north.
Weather: Rain, then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sat 14 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, bu westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sat 14 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing, veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 later

Wind: In southwest, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. In northeast, southwest 4 to 6, becoming north 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: In southwest, rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southwest, thundery showers. In northeast, thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming north 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

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

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 becoming north 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

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

Southerly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: South or southwest, 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high in far southwest.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

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

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent but backing northerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: North or northeast 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Snow.
Visibility: Poor or very poor. Moderate icing.

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.