Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Fastnet 1011 losing its identity

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Variable 4 at first in east, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Variable 4 at first in east, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Wind: Cyclonic 3 or 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering northerly imminent

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 08:03 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: In west, northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, backing southwesterly 4 to 6. In east, northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: In west, showers. In east, occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:56 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later, backing southwesterly later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, then south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or southwest 5 or 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or southwest 5 or 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Wintry showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Wintry showers then rain.
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.