Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Forties 993 expected losing its identity

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, then northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, then northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering east 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering east 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering east or southeast, 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering east or southeast, 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering east or southeast, 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering east or southeast, 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: West 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: North 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, moderate later in south.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest veering southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in far west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in west.

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.