Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low Forties 987 expected Germany 1005 by 1800 Tuesday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 backing northerly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale force 9 at first, becoming northwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor. Light icing at first.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor. Light icing at first.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Northwest veering east or southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Northwest veering east or southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Northwest veering east or southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest veering east or southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest backing southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Northwest veering southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northwest veering southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest veering southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 4, then southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 4, then southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: North 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: North 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in far west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very 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.