Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low west of Trafalgar 998 slow moving, expected 984 by midnight tonight. Low Bailey 980, losing its identity

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Tyne

Wind: South 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Dogger

Wind: South 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Fisher

Wind: South 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

German Bight

Wind: South 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Humber

Wind: South 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Thames

Wind: South backing east 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: South backing east 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic becoming east or northeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic becoming east or northeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Drizzle at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Drizzle at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: South backing northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering southwesterly soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but very rough or high at first in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 backing northeasterly imminent, then backing northwesterly soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
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.