Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low east Iceland 975 expected northwest Norwegian Basin 984 by 0600 Monday

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough. occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Dover

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast. In north, westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, occasional drizzle later. In north, occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally moderate later. In north, moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing, veering westerly imminent

Wind: West 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly soon

Wind: West 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly imminent

Wind: West 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing, veering westerly imminent

Wind: West 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 continuing, veering westerly soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high except southeast.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, then increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, then increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

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.