Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midday

Atlantic low 989 expected just west of Bailey 997 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 16 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough except.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7, veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5 in northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate at first in southeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 14 Apr 2026

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, southwesterly 3 to 5 in northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, rough or very rough. in northwest, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: In southeast, rain. In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 22:24 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7 backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally slight.
Weather: Thundery showers then rain.
Visibility: 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: Southwest 6 to gale 8, backing south 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southeast, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches, squally showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southeast, 5 to 7, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches, squally showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first in north and moderate later in west.
Weather: Rain, 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.