Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

New high expected Humber 1027 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 7 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

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

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: North 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight, then occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic becoming variable mainly north, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northwest, smooth or slight in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic becoming variable mainly north, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic becoming variable mainly north, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northwest, smooth or slight in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic becoming variable mainly north, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 5 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 5 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 5 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far southeast. In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: In southeast, occasional rain. In northwest, fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: In west, southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. In east, northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In west, rough or very rough. in east, moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest, then veering northwesterly 4 later in far northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in northwest.
Weather: Rain later in northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in northwest.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 except in southeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east and high in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in northwest.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first and 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first and 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

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

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in southeast but becoming very rough or high in northwest.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in northwest.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Rough at first in east, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, then wintry 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.