Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Atlantic low expected east of Iceland 977 by 1800 Sunday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased, but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasional poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: North or northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate until later, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: North or northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate until later, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: North or northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate until later, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, backing westerly later in north, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far south. In north, variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south. in north, moderate or rough in north.
Weather: In south, fair. In north, fair then occasional drizzle.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, veering northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, then squally showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 imminent, then backing southwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest veering west 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 backing and increasing southwesterly severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest veering west 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, backing and increasing southwesterly severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest veering west 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10, decreasing gale force 8 soon, then backing southwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest veering west 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, then veering west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming high in west.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, veering southwesterly soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, then high or very high later.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon, then veering southwesterly later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, then high or very high later.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.