Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

New lows expected southwest England 1007 and Humber 1008 by 1800 Friday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:59 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 3 to 5, veering northerly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 3 to 5, veering northerly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:59 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:59 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in north.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:59 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:59 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first in far east, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest veering north or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest veering north or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:59 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing southwest later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 imminent, veering southwesterly soon, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high except in east.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor occasionally good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:59 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:59 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but westerly storm force 10 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming westerly, gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor. Occasional light icing near iceland.

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.