Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low 350 miles west of Shannon 996 expected Rockall 958 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 6 to gale 8 later. In east, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: In west, moderate or rough. in east, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: In west, showers. In east, sleet then fair.
Visibility: In west, good. In east, poor becoming good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Sleet then fair.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Sleet then fair.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming southeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers then fair.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming southeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Rain or showers then fair.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

Humber

Wind: Northwest, backing southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northwest, backing southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: South or southeast 3 or less, increasing 4 to 6, then veering west later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southeast 3 or less, increasing 4 to 6, then veering west later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwest 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: In southeast, showers. In northwest, mainly fair.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In southeast, northerly 5 to 7. In northwest, southerly, veering westerly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: In southeast, rough, occasionally very rough later. in northwest, rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good occasionally poor. In northwest, good occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southerly, veering westerly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Lundy

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

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

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

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

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: South or southeast, veering southwest, gale 8 to storm 10.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Poor occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 imminent, increasing storm force 10 soon, veering southwesterly later

Wind: South or southeast, veering southwest, gale 8 to storm 10.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Poor occasionally moderate.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly storm force 10 expected later, veering southerly later

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, increasing gale 8 to storm 10.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Hebrides

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

Southeasterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: Southwest, backing east or southeast, 4 to 6, increasing gale 8 to storm 10.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Easterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: Southwest, backing east or southeast, 4 to 6, increasing gale 8 to storm 10.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Westerly, backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Westerly, backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Westerly, backing southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

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.