Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

High Sweden 1026 expected latvia 1032 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sat 7 Mar 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 7 Mar 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 3 at first in southeast, otherwise southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: In east, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. In west, southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south.
Weather: In east, drizzle, fog patches. In west, mainly fair.
Visibility: In east, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In west, moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in north and east, smooth or slight elsewhere.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 to 5 in north.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

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

Humber

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

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 7 Mar 2026

Wind: Variable 4 in far southeast, otherwise northerly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 4 later. In northwest, variable 4 in southeast, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southeast, rough. in northwest, very rough in northwest and rough elsewhere.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Variable 3 in far east, otherwise southerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 later in far west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in north and rough in south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
Weather: Drizzle later in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in southeast.

Irish Sea

Wind: South 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Drizzle later in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in southeast.

Shannon

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then decreasing 4 at times, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming mainly very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: 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: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then decreasing 4 at times, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in east.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming mainly very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

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

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: In east, rough or very rough occasionally moderate, but elsewhere very rough or high, becoming mainly very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: 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: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then decreasing 4 at times, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming mainly very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: 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: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

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

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, otherwise very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

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

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

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

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: High, occasionally very high at first in west, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: 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.