Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low southwest France 1019 losing its identity. High just west of Trafalgar 1027 dissipating

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Sat 7 Mar 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 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: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, but elsewhere smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Dogger

Wind: In west, southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: In west, occasional rain, fog patches later. In east, occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: In west, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later. In east, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but easterly 4 or 5 at first in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

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

Humber

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

Thames

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

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, but smooth or slight elsewhere.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

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

Trafalgar

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly for a time in northwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 in west and later in east, occasionally 7 later. In northwest, cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: In southeast, rough. in northwest, rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: In southeast, showers. In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility: In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, but occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far west.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, but occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, but occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, but occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, but occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwesterly, backing southerly for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, but elsewhere rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time, then occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly, backing southeasterly for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
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.