Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Faeroes 999 expected northwest of Norway 977 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: South becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: South becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: South becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: South becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3, then northwesterly 4 to 6 later in northwest.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Wind: Cyclonic 3 or 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering northerly imminent

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 08:03 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming north or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming north or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in northwest.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, backing south 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest 6, backing south 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming mainly high later.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, backing southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, backing southerly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
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.