Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low 450 miles west of Sole 997 expected 100 miles west of south Rockall 993 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Thu 16 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 16 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 17 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In northeast, southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6. In southwest, southerly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in southwest.
Weather: In northeast, rain then showers, fog patches. In southwest, showers, then rain later.
Visibility: In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southeasterly 5 or 6 at first in northeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southeasterly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough at first in far northwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southeasterly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. In southeast, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In northwest, very rough becoming moderate or rough. in southeast, moderate or rough.
Weather: In northwest, showers. In southeast, fog patches.
Visibility: In northwest, good, occasionally moderate. In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Trafalgar

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

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in northwest.

Sole

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Lundy

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Fastnet

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Thu 16 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In south, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. In north, southwesterly backing southerly, then becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, rain or showers. In north, showers then rain.
Visibility: In south, moderate or poor, occasionally good at first. In north, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly, then becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later except in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 at first in northeast, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate in west and south.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.