Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low FitzRoy 989 expected Plymouth 995 by 1800 Saturday. Low Southeast Iceland 991 losing its identity

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 22 Mar 2025 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 23 Mar 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southeast 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast, backing east later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, backing east or northeast 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, backing east or northeast 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southeast, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southeast, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 16:03 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Northwesterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Thundery rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Thundery rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, but southeast 4 or 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough.
Weather: Rain, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, but southeast 4 or 5 at.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest veering north, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in south.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 16:03 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming north 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 16:03 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, but 4 to 6 at first, becoming north 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, but cyclonic at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

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

Wind: Southeast, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in south and high in northeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Southeasterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, but cyclonic 6 to gale 8 until later in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate near icelandic coast.
Weather: Rain, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Fri 21 Mar 2025

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate near icelandic coast.
Weather: Rain, fair later.
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.