Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

Low Iceland 990, moving rather quickly northeast, expected Norwegian Sea 975 by midday tomorrow. High FitzRoy 1038, slow moving, declining 1033 by same time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 1 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate at first in northeast, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor later.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor later.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor at first.

Biscay

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor at first.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In south, rough becoming moderate or rough. in north, rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, mainly fair. In north, occasional drizzle.
Visibility: In south, good occasionally moderate. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later in far north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Drizzle then squally rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Drizzle then squally rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Drizzle then squally rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Drizzle then squally rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough later.
Weather: Squally rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, veering northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Occasional rain, squally for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming 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.