Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Atlantic low expected east of Iceland 964 by 0600 Sunday

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: West or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

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

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fog patches, rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fog patches, rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fog patches, rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East backing north ot northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East backing north ot northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly later in north, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Variable, becoming northwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable, becoming northwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable, becoming northwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Wind: Southwesterly veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 04:41 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In south, southwesterly veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6. In north, southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough. in north, very rough or high.
Weather: In south, rain . In north, rain.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good. In north, moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 04:41 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 04:41 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon then increasing violent storm force 11 later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, then decreasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High or very high, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

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

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in northwest.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 04:41 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon then increasing storm force 11 later

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later, occasionally violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 04:41 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing violent storm force 11 later

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later, occasionally violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally 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.