Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low 100 miles east of Iceland 977 expected Norwegian Sea 996 by 1800 Saturday. High 450 miles north of Azores 1037 expected just west of FitzRoy 1040 by same time

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

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West, veering northwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: West, veering northwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise northerly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 in far southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, northeasterly 6 to gale 8. In north, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, showers. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: In east, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In west, northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east, rough or very rough. in west, very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: In east, showers. In west, showers.
Visibility: In east, good occasionally moderate. In west, good occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers then fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Storm force 10 veering northwesterly and decreasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
Sea state: High or very high, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest later, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: High or very high, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly imminent and increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
Sea state: High or very high, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
Sea state: High or very high, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:42 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

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

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest, 7 to severe gale 9, then backing west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly later, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, sleet later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly imminent, increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, sleet later.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.