Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Plymouth 1005 expected Fisher 1007 by 1800 Saturday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Feb 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 1 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6 at first in northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5 at first, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming south 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming west 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming west 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming west 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering northwesterly later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming west 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4, backing southwesterly 5 or 6 later in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough at first in northwest, otherwise rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. In north, northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: In south, very rough becoming rough. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, fair. In north, occasional rain.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first, other south or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first, otherwise south or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
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.