Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Bailey 969 expected Faeroes 982 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 13 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: South 6 or 7 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: South 6 or 7 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: South 6 or 7 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: South 6 or 7 decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: South 6 or 7 decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: South backing southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: South backing southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, then smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, then smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 in west and later elsewhere.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly later in west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 now veered westerly, decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West 6 to gale 8 decreasing 3 to 5, backing southwest later.
Sea state: High becoming very rough, then rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 backing westerly imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 now veered westerly, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high until later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 backing northwesterly imminent

Wind: In southeast, cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7 later. In northwest, cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south and 3 in north.
Sea state: In southeast, rough or very rough, occasionally high until later. in northwest, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: In southeast, squally showers. In northwest, showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 23:11 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 now backed southeasterly

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 16:14 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 in west and perhaps severe gale 9 later in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
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.