Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

New high expected Dogger 1030 by 1800 Tuesday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Mon 2 Mar 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 3 Mar 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Mon 2 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in north, slight or moderate in south.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Cromarty

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Tyne

Wind: West 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: West 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 4 to 6, backing west 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in north.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in far northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 2 Mar 2026

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

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 in east, but in west, northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, then southeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5 veering south or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, then becoming moderate later in east.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Mon 2 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5 backing south or southwest 4 to 6, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5 backing south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Mon 2 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 2 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, backing southerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then southerly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high again later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Mon 2 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high at first except in southeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, wintry at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:57 (UTC) on Mon 2 Mar 2026

Storm force 10 veering westerly and decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, decreasing gale force 8 later

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, wintry at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:57 (UTC) on Mon 2 Mar 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, decreasing gale force 8 later

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers then rain.
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.