Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midnight

Low 450 miles southwest of Iceland 979 expected west coast of Iceland 971 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 10 Mar 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog banks in east.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor in east but mainly good in west.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable, becoming southwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far northwest.
Weather: Occasional drizzle or showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable, becoming southwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle or showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable, becoming southwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle or showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable, becoming southwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle or showers, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable, becoming southwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle or showers, perhaps thundery, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable, becoming southwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle or showers, perhaps thundery, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northeast, moderate or rough in southwest.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northeast, perhaps gale 8 later in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rouigh in north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 3 or 4 veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight until later in north, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough except in far east.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:52 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:59 (UTC) on Sun 8 Mar 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in west.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry at first.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.