Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low just northeast of Iceland 977 losing its identity

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 15 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 4 or 5, backing south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in east.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Tyne

Wind: Variable mainly northwest backing southwest, 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable mainly northwest backing southwest, 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in east.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in east.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northeast, moderate or rough in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly later in north, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in south, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, then becoming very rough again later in west.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6, veering west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering southwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or southwest, backing south for a time, 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest, backing south for a time, 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest, backing south for a time, 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering southwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or southwest, backing south for a time, 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest, backing south for a time, 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest, backing south for a time, 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming squally.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:49 (UTC) on Sat 14 Mar 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain or sleet 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.