Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midday

High Forth 1034 expected Humber 1028 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 24 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight or moderate in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: In east, northwesterly 4 or 5. In west, variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, slight throughout.
Weather: In east, fair. In west, fog patches.
Visibility: In east, good. In west, good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: In west, variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. In east, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In west, slight. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather: In west, fog patches. In east, fair.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally very poor. In east, good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 2.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
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: Moderate or good.

Wight

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

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough until later, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 or 3 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6 at first in west, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4, then southwesterly 4 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 east, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: East or southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Fair, fog patches developing later in east.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later in east.

Hebrides

Wind: East or southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Fair, fog patches developing later in east.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later in east.

Bailey

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, but variable 3 or 4 until later in south.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in south, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, but variable 3 or 4 until later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
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.