Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low west of Bailey 965 moving steadily northeast, losing its identity

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

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

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Tyne

Wind: South 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: South 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: South 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: South 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: South 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: South backing southeast, then east later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: South backing southeast, then east later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, backing east 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, backing east 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, backing east 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, backing east 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

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

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, but in southeast, easterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far west.
Weather: Occasional rain, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but very rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

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

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering southwesterly soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming slight or moderate later in southeast, otherwise very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 veering and decreasing southwesterly gale force 8 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or thundery 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.