Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low mid-Atlantic 976 moving steadily northeast, expected 150 miles south of Iceland 964 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 04:35 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest backing south, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 04:35 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good becoming moderate occasionally poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good becoming moderate occasionally poor later.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest backing south 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest backing south 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest backing south 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest backing south 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Southwest backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southwest backing south 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Southwest backing south 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southwest backing south 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: In north, southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6. In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In north, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. in south, rough or very rough becoming rough later.
Weather: In north, mainly fair. In south, fair.
Visibility: In north, good, occasionally moderate. In south, good occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Wind: In southeast, northeasterly 4 to 6, veering easterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. In northwest, northeasterly, veering southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, fair.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 04:35 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6. In northwest, southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in west.
Sea state: In southeast, rough or very rough becoming rough later. in northwest, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: In southeast, good occasionally moderate. In northwest, good occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sun 15 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest backing south, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but occasionally very rough at first in far southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest backing south, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest backing south, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Sun 15 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 backing southwesterly soon

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: High becoming very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High becoming very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High becoming very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High or very high becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly imminent, veering southwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: High or very high becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, backing southerly soon and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: In southeast rough or very rough, otherwise high or very high becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, backing southerly soon and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High or very high becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but easterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or 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.