Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High German Bight 1030 expected poland 1028 by midday tomorrow. New low expected Biscay 1012 by same time

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly backing southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: South 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Cromarty

Wind: South 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Forth

Wind: South 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Southeast 3 or 4, veering northwesterly 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in far west.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026

Wind: Northerly backing northwesterly later, 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 in far southeast.
Sea state: Very rough at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers in south, rain later in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in south.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, veering northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northerly 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: South 5 to 7, veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northwest, moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: 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.