Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midday

Low 100 miles north of Faeroes 962 expected 125 miles north of Scandinavia 969 by midday Monday

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

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

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fog patches until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

German Bight

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Humber

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

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

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

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Lundy

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southwest, slight or moderate elsewhere.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Westerly gale force 8 backing southerly later

Wind: West backing south later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, backing southerly later

Wind: West backing south later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 veering and decreasing westerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or southwest backing south later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough or high, but moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Westerly storm force 10 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, backing southerly later

Wind: Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

Southwesterly violent storm force 11 veering and decreasing westerly severe gale force 9 imminent, then decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain 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.