Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low 200 miles northeast of Iceland 954 expected 50 miles northeast of Iceland 959 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (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: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9 veering southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

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.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

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.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 veering west or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in east.
Weather: Rain then showers, occasionally wintry.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 veering west or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Rain then showers, occasionally wintry.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 veering west or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers, occasionally wintry.
Visibility: Moderate or 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: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 veering west or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers, occasionally wintry.
Visibility: Moderate or 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: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 veering west or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers, occasionally wintry.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

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

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 veering west or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Rain then showers, occasionally wintry.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

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

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later, then veering west or southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time.
Weather: Fair then rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

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

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later, then veering west or southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time.
Weather: Fair then rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

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

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later, then veering west or southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time.
Weather: Fair then rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

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

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later, then veering west or southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time.
Weather: Fair then rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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: Southwesterly veering westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and 4 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high in north.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest veering west, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally 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 veering west 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Fastnet

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers, wintry at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly imminent

Wind: Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high in north.
Weather: Rain then squally showers, wintry at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Rockall

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

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10, veering west or northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west or northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high in west.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west or northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 at first in southeast, otherwise northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very high at first in south, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then veering west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 12 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8 in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.