Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low moving slowly northeast expected just west of Rockall 981 by midday tomorrow. New low expected FitzRoy 991 by same time. Low German Bight 1001 losing its identity

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026.

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

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

Forties

Wind: In northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6. In southwest, northerly veering southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: In northeast, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. in southwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: In northeast, wintry showers. In southwest, showers.
Visibility: In northeast, moderate. In southwest, good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly veering southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northerly veering southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northerly veering southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northerly veering southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in west, otherwise mainly moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Northwest veering east, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northwest veering east, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 4, becoming east 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

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

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

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

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

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

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

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in southwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

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

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later, occasionally very high later in west.
Weather: Showers.
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: Southeast 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough occasionally high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

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

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9. In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far west. in northeast, rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather: In southwest, occasional rain. In northeast, fair.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, good.

Bailey

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

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough, occasionally high later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

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

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8 in west, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry 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.