Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Atlantic low 957 moving northwards expected 200 miles southwest of Iceland 968 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 13:43 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Westerly violent storm force 11 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in west, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming mainly moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate, occasionally slight later in south.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5 at first, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, but 6 or 7 in far southeast, veering westerly or southwesterly later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first in southeast, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east, and high at times later in southwest.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, high at times in west.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, and increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair,.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasional severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 22:40 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering south 6 to gale 8, but decreasing 3 to 5 later in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in south, but very rough at times in north and west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 22:40 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:57 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, increasing 8 to storm 10, veering south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming mainly high later.
Weather: Rain.
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.