Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low west Trafalgar 999 expected 250 miles west of FitzRoy 979 by midnight tonight. New low expected Biscay 1005 by same time

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Northeast backing northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

German Bight

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in far northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

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

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northwest, decreasing 5 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in southeast and poor elsewhere.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: East 6 or 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

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

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far southwest.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in south.

Rockall

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in north.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
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.