Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low 200 miles southwest of Iceland 974 expected northwest Iceland 968 by midday tomorrow. New low expected 250 miles west of Rockall 969 by same time

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 10 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog banks, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good later.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain and fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Forties

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain and fog banks, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good later.

Cromarty

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in east.

Forth

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in east.

Tyne

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in east.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Fisher

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

German Bight

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally very poor, becoming good occasionally poor later.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally very poor, becoming good occasionally poor later.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northeast, perhaps gale 8 later in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rouigh in north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

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

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 or 5, backing southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

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

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

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6 for a time, then southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

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

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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: South or southwest, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

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

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8.
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: Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry at times.
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.