Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

High just west of FitzRoy 1041 slow-moving, declining 1038 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly veering northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far north.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 late.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough ,occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, north or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far south. In north, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, fair. In north, occasional drizzle.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: High at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, increasing severe gale force 9 soon, veering northwesterly later

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers then occasional rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers then occasional rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, then rain later.
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.