Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low mid-Atlantic 981 expected northwest of Bailey 971 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Forties

Wind: West backing south 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: West backing south 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: West backing south 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: West backing south 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: West backing south 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: West backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches, fog banks later.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor, becoming moderate to very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: West backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches, fog banks later.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor, becoming moderate to very poor later.

Humber

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate in east.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Biscay

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 in south.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate in east.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, except in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, southerly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7. In northwest, southerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, occasional rain, fog patches. In northwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
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.