Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low moving rapidly northeast, expected 150 miles west of Rockall 964 by midday tomorrow. New low expected Fisher 1011 by same time

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 now backed southeasterly

Wind: In west, cyclonic 4 to 6. In east, southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 later.
Sea state: In west, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. in east, rough or very rough, occasionally high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: In west, rain. In east, sleet.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 now backed southeasterly

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

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

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Sleet.
Visibility: Poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In east, cyclonic 6 to gale 8 decreasing 3 to 5. In west, westerly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough. in west, slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: In east, rain. In west, rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest, backing southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest, backing southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 at first in southwest, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 in southeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In southeast, northeasterly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. In northwest, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 veering southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: In southeast, rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 veering southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly severe gale force 9 expected soon, veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: West 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly soon, increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Westerly gale force 8 imminent, backing southeasterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southwest 3 to 5, then southeast gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 to 5, then southeast gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 to 5, then southeast gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwest at first, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwest at first, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high until later in west, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:58 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwest at first, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
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.