Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Atlantic low 979 moving rather quickly northeastwards expected 150 miles north of Southeast Iceland 971 by 1800 Tuesday

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 25 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Forties

Wind: South or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Westerly backing southerly 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog banks developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate to very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Westerly backing southerly 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog banks developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate to very poor.

Humber

Wind: West at first, otherwise south or southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

Wind: South or southwest, 3 to 5,.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Biscay

Wind: In north, south or southwest, 3 to 5. In south, variable 2 to 4, but south 3 to 5 at times.
Sea state: In north, moderate or rough. in south, moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: In north, occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches until later. In south, fair.
Visibility: In north, moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later. In south, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Trafalgar

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4, but south 3 to 5 at times. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight later. in northwest, moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: In southeast, fair . In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility: In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times. In northwest, southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, rain or showers. In northwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally poor. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, poor at times.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, poor at times.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, slight at times in north.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, poor at times, but occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:38 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now veered southerly

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southerly, 6 to gale 8, then cyclonic 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:38 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 now veered southerly

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southerly, 6 to gale 8, then cyclonic 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:38 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in north, and moderate in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:38 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 or 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later in north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:38 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 or 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later in south.
Weather: Rain or 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.