Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low 100 miles east of Iceland 963 expected 100 miles north of Scandinavia 967 by 0600 Monday

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sat 21 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: South 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: South 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: South 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: South 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southwest, slight or moderate elsewhere.
Weather: Occasional drizzle until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased, but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, backing southerly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, backing southerly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 veering and decreasing westerly gale force 8 soon

Wind: West or southwest backing south later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 veering and decreasing westerly gale force 8 soon

Wind: West or southwest backing south later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly violent storm force 11 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, then veering and decreasing westerly gale force 8 soon

Wind: Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming westerly then cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly violent storm force 11 veering and decreasing westerly severe gale force 9 imminent, then decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming westerly then cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate to very 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.