Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low 100 miles southwest of Iceland 992 expected 400 miles northeast of Iceland 977 by midnight tonight. High just west of FitzRoy 1039 expected west FitzRoy 1035 by same time

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 1 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6 backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate, then occasionally slight later.
Weather: Showers, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate, then occasionally slight later.
Weather: Showers, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In south, rough, becoming moderate or rough. in north, rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: In south, mainly fair. In north, occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in north.

Sole

Wind: West or northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northeast, rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in south, smooth or slight in north.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Drizzle, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Drizzle, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Drizzle, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Drizzle, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8 veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming high for a time at first in far northwest.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough until later in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time at first.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

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.