Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected west Bailey 987 by midnight tonight. High northern Spain 1033 slow moving with little change.

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeast veering southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly 5 or 6 increasing 7 or gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly 5 or 6 increasing 7 or gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7 at first in northeast, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 3 at times in south, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

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

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6 in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 for a time in northwest. In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southeast, rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic later in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Sat 21 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far north.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming variable 4 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

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

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: 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.