Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Atlantic low 962 expected 125 miles south of Southeast Iceland 970 by 1800 Tuesday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 04:35 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 04:35 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In east, southerly 5 to 7. In west, southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough. in west, moderate or rough.
Weather: In east, occasional rain, fog patches later. In west, occasional rain.
Visibility: In east, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later. In west, good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Southwest backing southeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Southwest backing southeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Southwest backing southeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Southwest backing southeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest backing southeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, but in southeast, easterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 04:35 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 in northwest, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far west.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 in northwest, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far west.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lundy

Wind: South, 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South, 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly imminent, veering southwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, backing southerly soon and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale force 9 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, backing southerly soon and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale force 9 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 veering and decreasing southwesterly gale force 8 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale force 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Sleet or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.