Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low east of Iceland 978 expected Norwegian Sea 995 by 1800 Monday. High jsut west of FitzRoy 1041 slow-moving, declining 1039 by same time

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7, veering northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far north.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: West veering northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: West veering northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: West veering northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: West veering northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: West or northwest veering north later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough ,occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, north or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. In north, westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough ,occasionally very rough at first. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, fair. In north, occasional drizzle.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, occasional drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather: Showers, occasional drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, occasional drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest 5 or 6, backing west or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: High at first in north, otherwise very rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers, then occasional drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers, then occasional drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly imminent

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, then occasional rain or drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing, veering westerly imminent

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, then occasional rain or drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, increasing severe gale force 9 soon, veering northwesterly later

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, then occasional rain or drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, then increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, then occasional rain or drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, then increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, then occasional rain or drizzle later.
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.