Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Bailey 986 and low Norwegian Basin 991, both losing their identities by midnight tonight.

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 3, then south 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4, backing south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4, backing south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4, backing south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4, backing south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4, backing south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Humber

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Thames

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: In north, southwest 4 to 6. In south, variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In north, moderate or rough. in south, moderate or rough.
Weather: In north, occasional rain, fog patches. In south, fair.
Visibility: In north, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In south, good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, except in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6. In northwest, southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: Southwest backing south 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5, then backing southerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5, then backing southerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:56 (UTC) on Sun 22 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In south, southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5, then backing southerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. In north, cyclonic becoming southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: In south, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough. in north, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, squally showers then rain. In north, showers, rain later.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Showers at first, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5 veering southeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers at first, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly veering southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 for a time, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional 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.