Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Atlantic low moving rapidly east expected FitzRoy 995 by 0600 tomorrow. Low Fisher 995 losing its identity

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: North 5 to 7, becoming variable 4, then southeast 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: North 5 to 7, becoming variable 4, then southeast 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 4, then southeast 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 4, then southeast 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough at first in west.
Weather: Rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, veering northeast 4, then southeast 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, veering northeast 4, then southeast 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northwest veering southeast, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 3, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 3, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first southwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic mainly southwest, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northwesterly later

Wind: Cyclonic mainly southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

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

Wind: Variable 3 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In south, southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. In north, cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough, occasionally high later. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, rain later. In north, wintry showers.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good. In north, good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northeasterly 6 to gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally 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.

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