Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

High Forties 1029 expected German Bight 1023 by 1800 Friday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 20 Mar 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly 3 at first in southeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in far north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in north.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first in east, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming south 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming south 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable, but mainly northeast at first, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable, but mainly northeast at first, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

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

Portland

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

Plymouth

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

Biscay

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in east and north.
Sea state: Rough at first in southwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 22:58 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, cyclonic mainly easterly 3 to 5. In north, easterly, backing northeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, thundery showers. In north, fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in south.

Sole

Wind: Easterly, backing northeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable mainly east 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable mainly east 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later. In southeast, southerly veering southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: In northwest, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. in southeast, moderate becoming rough.
Weather: In northwest, fair then rain. In southeast, occasional rain later.
Visibility: In northwest, moderate or good. In southeast, good, occasionally moderate later.

Malin

Wind: Southerly veering southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Hebrides

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5 at first in southeast, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate at first in southeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in northwest.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, very rough or high in west.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 22:58 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
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.