Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low south Biscay 1004 slow-moving, filling 1015 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forties

Wind: In northeast, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. In southwest, northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: In northeast, slight or moderate. in southwest, smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, backing northwesterly later in northeast but becoming variable 3 or less later in southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in east.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast 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 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

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

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8 at first in north, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far northwest.
Weather: In southeast, occasional rain at first. In northwest, rain at times.
Visibility: In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, 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: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and 4 in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Thundery 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 or southeast 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

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

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: In northeast, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, but in southwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: East 7 to severe gale 9 veering southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate in far northeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: In south, easterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. In north, easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough until later in far southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, showers. In north, fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in south.

Malin

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: In south, easterly 4 to 6. In north, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: 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.