Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

New low expected Hebrides 990 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8, veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8, veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic at first, otherwise west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: West or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first, and rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, slight at times later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, slight at times later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 or 3 at times in south, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6 in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later in west. In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southeast, rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, rain at times.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, slight at times.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 for a time later in south, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic becoming east or northeast, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

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

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northwest.
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.