Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low west of Bailey 983 losing its identity by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 except, veering northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, veering northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain, sleet at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, veering northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southwest veering northwest, 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest veering northwest, 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southwest veering west, 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in west.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest veering west, 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in west.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest veering west, 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: South 5 to 7 veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

German Bight

Wind: South 5 to 7 veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Biscay

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, becoming variable 2 to 4 in southeast.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5 in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in southeast and very rough at first in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, becoming variable 2 to 4 in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Sole

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Thu 19 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in northeast.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Thu 19 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Thu 19 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Shannon

Wind: West backing southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic in north, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high in north.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 backing northeasterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 becoming east 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry 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.