Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New high expected Humber 1028 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 7 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

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

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in northwest, otherwise smooth or slight.
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: Northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in northwest, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Northerly veering easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

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

Wight

Wind: Northerly at first in west, otherwise easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Northerly veering easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far southeast, then occasionally 3 later. In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: In southeast, occasional rain. In northwest, fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in southeast.

Sole

Wind: In west, southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In west, rough or very rough. in east, moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in southeast, very rough or high in northwest.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Fair at first in southeast, otherwise rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in southeast, very rough or high in northwest.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South 7 to severe gale 9 veering southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: High, becoming very rough later in far south.
Weather: Rain, then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: In southeast, slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, but in northwest, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in northwest.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9 veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in east, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9 veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, then squally 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.