Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low Hebrides 979 expected 150 miles northeast of Iceland 997 by 1800 Monday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 13 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 14 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:40 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:43 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: South 4 to 6 backing southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: South 4 to 6 backing southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

German Bight

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Humber

Wind: Southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, backing south 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, backing south 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: West, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: West backing south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: West backing south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in southwest.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: West 3 or 4 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first and moderate later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest, backing south or southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwest, backing south or southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:42 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 3 at first in far north, otherwise westerly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:43 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:42 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In east, cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. In west, cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: In east, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. in west, moderate or rough.
Weather: In east, rain or showers, squally at first. In west, showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: 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.