Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low 300 miles west of Shannon 994 expected 991 Rockall by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Thu 16 Apr 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 16 Apr 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 17 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Forties

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: South or southeast, veering southwest for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest backing south or southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Humber

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. In southeast, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, in southeast, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: In northwest, showers. In southeast, mainly fair.
Visibility: In northwest, good, occasionally moderate. In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Trafalgar

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

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility: In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South veering southwest. 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Thu 16 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:46 (UTC) on Thu 16 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

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

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southerly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southerly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.