Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New low expected Forties 985 by midday tomorrow.

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 5 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high for a time in north.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high for a time in north.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, then veering southeasterly soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high for a time in north.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, then veering southeasterly soon

Wind: In east, southeasterly 6 to gale 8. In west, south becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, then northwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: In east, rough or very rough, occasionally high for a time in north. in west, moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: In east, rain or sleet. In west, sleet, then wintry showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, then northwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Sleet, then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, then northwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, slight at times.
Weather: Sleet, then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, then northwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, slight at times.
Weather: Sleet, then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast, 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now veered southeasterly

Wind: Southeast, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now veered southeasterly

Wind: Southeast, 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: Mainly west veering northwest, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: Mainly west veering northwest, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Mainly west veering northwest, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now veered westerly

Wind: Mainly west veering northwest, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very roug.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in south, otherwise west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: Mainly west veering northwest, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Mainly west veering northwest, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Mainly west veering northwest, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Mainly west veering northwest, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Westerly veering northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in south.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Westerly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, westerly, 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. In north, cyclonic, 4 to 6, becoming northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In south, very rough or high. in north, rough or very rough, occasionally high at times later.
Weather: In south, thundery showers. In north, wintry showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic, 4 to 6, becoming northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at times later, but moderate at times in east.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, 4 to 6, becoming northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at times later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 backing northerly imminent

Wind: Northerly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, then northwesterly 7 or gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 backing northerly imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in south, otherwise becoming mainly northerly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in northwest.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 15 Feb 2026

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent but backing northerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high, and rough at times in north.
Weather: Snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor. Moderate icing.

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.