Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

High 100 miles west of FitzRoy 1033, dissipating by midday tomorrow. Atlantic low expected just south of Iceland 974 by same time

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: In east, northwesterly, backing southwesterly, 4 to 6. In west, southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east, rough or very rough, becoming moderate later. in west, moderate or rough.
Weather: In east, rain or showers. In west, rain or showers.
Visibility: In east, good occasionally poor. In west, good occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: In west, variable 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 for a time. In east, northwesterly, backing southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: In west, rough becoming moderate. in east, rough or very rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: In west, rain or showers. In east, rain later.
Visibility: In west, moderate or good. In east, good becoming poor later.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Humber

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Thames

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 4, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 4, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 4, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 4, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Biscay

Wind: North, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate, occasionally slight later in far northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, northeasterly 6 to gale 8. In north, westerly, veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later. in north, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: In south, fair . In north, occasional rain.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Westerly, veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Westerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing, veering and increasing westerly severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 imminent, veering southwesterly soon

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good becoming poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering southwesterly later

Wind: South, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high, except in southeast.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate becoming poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

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

Wind: South, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate becoming poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9, veering southwesterly soon

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Poor 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.