Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

High just west of FitzRoy 1034, dissipating by midnight tonight. Atlantic low expected west of Iceland 970 by same time

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing southerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing southerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, northeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. In north, northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough. in north, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: In south, fair . In north, mainly fair.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good.

Sole

Wind: Northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northwest backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fastnet

Wind: Northwest backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shannon

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

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later in northwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming southwest 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest becoming cyclonic then southwest later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest becoming cyclonic then southwest later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected soon, veering and decreasing southwesterly gale force 8 later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.