Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected Sole 1013 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, and 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west.
Weather: Showers or drizzle, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Portland

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or drizzle, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In north, occasional rain, fog patches. In south, showers.
Visibility: In north, moderate, occasionally very poor. In south, moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly for a time in northwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, but increasing 7 at times later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, but occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, but occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, but occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, but occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, but occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5 veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, but elsewhere rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, then west later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally 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.