Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High over northeast Spain 1033 expected Trafalgar 1031 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly then cyclonic, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair, then rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly then cyclonic, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair, then rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly then cyclonic, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair, then rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast, then veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast, then veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast, then veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly moderate.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, then southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times . In southeast, variable, becoming westerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: In northwest, moderate or rough in southeast, rough.
Weather: In northwest, rain, fog patches at first. In southeast, fair.
Visibility: In northwest, good, occasionally very poor. In southeast, moderate or good.

Trafalgar

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

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in northwest, otherwise northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, variable, becoming westerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times. In north, southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: In south, rough. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, fair. In north, rain, then showers.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in north.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 or 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 6 or 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 or 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north and 4 later in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high later in southwest.
Weather: Rain, then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west and 4 in east, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and 4 at first in east, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, occasionally northeasterly in north, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and 4 in east.
Sea state: Rough or very 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.