Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

High just west of FitzRoy 1031, dissipating by 0600 tomorrow. Atlantic low expected just south of Iceland 967 by same time

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwest, backing west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Northwest, backing west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Northwest, backing west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Wintry showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Wight

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Portland

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Biscay

Wind: North, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. In north, westerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later. in north, moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, fair . In north, showers then occasional rain.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Westerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Showers then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in northwest.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased, but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high, occasionally very high later in northwest.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 imminent, veering southwesterly soon

Wind: South, veering southwest, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering southwesterly later

Wind: South, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later, except in east.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor occasionally good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 backing southerly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, veering southwesterly later

Wind: South, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor occasionally good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 26 Mar 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9, veering southwesterly soon

Wind: Southeasterly, veering southwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Sleet then squally showers.
Visibility: 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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