Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New low, moving steadily northeast, expected south Sweden 973 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, then veering northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but high at first in north, becoming high later.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 now veered westerly, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, then veering northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but high at first in north, becoming high later.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough becoming high later.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then very rough later in east.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northwesterly later

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later, then high later in north.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Southwesterly 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon, veering northwesterly later

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8, then northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8, then northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8, then northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then high for a time.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise westerly 5 to 7, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In north, westerly 5 to 7, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. In south, northerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: In north, rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time. in south, moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In north, occasional rain. In south, occasional rain.
Visibility: In north, good occasionally moderate. In south, good occasionally moderate.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Westerly gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: West or southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: West or southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: West or southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent, veering northwesterly soon

Wind: West or southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but westerly gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

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

Wind: Northwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, veering north 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, veering north 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: West veering northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough in southeast, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: West veering northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in north.

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.