Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High Humber 1027 dissipating

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sat 7 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 7 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 until later in east, otherwise southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in north.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, then becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, then becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 7 Mar 2026

Wind: Variable 4 in far southeast, otherwise northerly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northerly mainly 3 to 5, but 6 at first in far southeast. In northwest, cyclonic mainly southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far northwest.
Sea state: Very rough until later in far northwest, otherwise rough.
Weather: In southeast, showers. In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable 3 at first in east and later in west, otherwise southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough until later in west, otherwise rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in north and rough in south.
Weather: Occasional rain in east.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in east.

Fastnet

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 in east.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far northwest.
Sea state: High becoming very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, but in northwest, very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sat 7 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry 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.