Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

High Southeast Iceland 1032 expected just south of Iceland 1041 by midnight tonight. New low expected Trafalgar 999 by same time. Low Viking 1021 losing its identity. High FitzRoy 1016 dissipating

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6, becoming variable, then northerly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable, then northerly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable, then northerly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic becoming east or northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic becoming east or northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: North veering northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: North veering northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: North veering northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fog patches in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor in south.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 19 Apr 2026

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later. In north, easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in southwest.
Sea state: In south, slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. in north, moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, thundery showers, fog patches. In north, occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: East 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: East 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southwest, slight or moderate in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northeast 2 to 4, veering east 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

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

Hebrides

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in south and west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5 until later in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.