Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

High German Bight 1031 expected Denmark 1030 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly 4 or 5, backing southerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
Sea state: Very rough at first in north, otherwise rough, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather: Occasional rain in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly 4 or 5, backing southerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
Sea state: Very rough at first in north, otherwise rough, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather: Occasional rain in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly backing southerly 3 to 5, backing southeasterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: South 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: South 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: South 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east.

Humber

Wind: East veering southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Thames

Wind: East veering southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dover

Wind: East veering southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Wight

Wind: East veering southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: East veering southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: East veering southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: East veering southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

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

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers in west.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor in west.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers in west.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor in west.

Lundy

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly, then northwesterly later in west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far west.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: South veering northwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 in north, then northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southerly, veering westerly later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Southerly, becoming cyclonic in north, then veering westerly later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Tue 3 Mar 2026

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

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: High becoming very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest backing south 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northwest, moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Tue 3 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain then 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.