Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High Scotland 1032 expected Dogger 1026 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 20 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, backing southerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, backing southerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: In east, variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later. In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5. In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: In west, mainly fair. In east, fog patches.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 backing easterly imminent

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in east.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, cyclonic mainly easterly, 4 to 6. In north, easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, rough, occasionally very rough at first in west and moderate later in east. in north, rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, rain or showers. In north, fair.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good.

Sole

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: East 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Rough at first in southwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, veering southeasterly, then southwesterly later in northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: In north, southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later in northwest, 4 to 6. In south, easterly or southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: In north, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. in south, moderate or rough.
Weather: In north, rain later. In south, fair.
Visibility: In north, good, occasionally poor later. In south, good.

Malin

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6. In northwest, southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north. in northwest, rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, rain later.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally moderate later.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: West 3 to 5 backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high in northwest.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026

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

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, squally wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.