Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low just west of FitzRoy 988 expected 350 miles west of FitzRoy 975 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (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 3 to 5, backing northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, backing northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, backing northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

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

Cromarty

Wind: Northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: North 3 or 4, backing northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Northeast backing northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate later in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: East 3 to 5.
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: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Biscay

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

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
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: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering southeasterly soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: East 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time at first in far west.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Irish Sea

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: 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 at first in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in far southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Rockall

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

Malin

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

Hebrides

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

Bailey

Wind: Easterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northeast, becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.