Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low 300 mile southwest of Southeast Iceland 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, backing southerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 11:16 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale 9 later

Wind: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 11:16 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale 9 later

Wind: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, except in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but rough at first in north, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, except in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time.
Weather: Showers, rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Biscay

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 except in southeast, veering westerly later in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast, and variable 1 to 3 at times in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, but 4 to 6 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain, then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest veering westerly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: High, occasionally very rough at first in south, and very high later in north.
Weather: Rain, then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10.
Sea state: High, but very high at times.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: High, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing southwesterly imminent

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: High, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing southwesterly imminent

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5 in north, but 7 to severe gale 9 in south, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: High, occasionally very high until later in south and very rough in north.
Weather: Rain, then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing southwesterly imminent

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally, wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Wed 11 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: In south, southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8. In north, cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: In south, squally, wintry showers. In north, wintry showers.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good, occasionally poor. In north, moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.