Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low 100 miles northeast of Iceland 973 losing its identity

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Fri 13 Mar 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 15 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest, veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest, veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: West or southwest veering northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: West or southwest veering northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: West or southwest veering northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Trafalgar

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in south, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Malin

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing west 4 to 6, then south or southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then rough later.
Weather: Showers, squally at first, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Fri 13 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, backing west 4 to 6, then south or southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then rough later.
Weather: Showers, squally at first, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: High at first in far east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, squally at first, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Fri 13 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing south or southwest later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Fri 13 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing south or southwest later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate near iceland.
Weather: Wintry showers, squally at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.