Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low 1000 miles west of Shannon 992 expected just west of Bailey 967 by 1800 Tuesday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 10 Mar 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor becoming moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor becoming moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor becoming moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later, then occasionally rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor becoming moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate until later in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwesterly at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in southwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough at first in southeast, otherwise very rough, but becoming high later.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 23:50 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing violent storm force 11 later

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming high or very high later.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time, then occasionally severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time, then occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

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

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8 backing south 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough until later in southeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
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.