Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

High Biscay 1029 expected southern France 1025 by 1800 on Monday. Low Faeroes 990 losing its identity by same time.

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers then fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Wight

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

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Biscay

Wind: In north, southwest 4 to 6. In south, variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In north, moderate or rough. in south, rough.
Weather: In north, occasional rain and fog patches later. In south, fair.
Visibility: In north, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later. In south, moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, except in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. In northwest, southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, occasional drizzle.
Visibility: In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in north.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Shannon

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8 backing south 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers then rain.
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 backing south 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In south, southwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. In north, cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: In south, very rough or high, occasionally rough later. in north, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, squally showers, rain later. In north, showers, rain later.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic becoming east or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly veering southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northwest, decreasing 4 for a time.
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.