Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

New high expected Rockall 1030 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6 veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6 becoming variable 3.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight occasionally smooth.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate at first in east, otherwise slight occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 3 at first in far southwest, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In south, cyclonic mainly easterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, perhaps gale 8 later in west. In north, easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, thundery showers. In north, showers at first.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northeast, rough or very rough in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in south.
Weather: Drizzle at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast, veering east later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: In north, westerly becoming variable, 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later. In south, variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In north, very rough becoming rough. in south, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: In north, fair. In south, mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
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.