Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Bailey 992 expected just northeast of Faeroes 1003 by 1800 Saturday. High 500 miles west of FitzRoy 1025, expected Shannon 1028 by same time

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 17 Apr 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: In west, southerly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6. In east, southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: In west, moderate occasionally rough. in east, slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: In west, rain or showers. In east, rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: In west, good occasionally poor. In east, moderate, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in south.
Weather: Rain then showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: West or southwest, veering northwest later, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Thames

Wind: West or southwest, veering northwest later, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dover

Wind: West or southwest, veering north later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Wight

Wind: West or southwest, veering north later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Portland

Wind: West or southwest, veering north later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Plymouth

Wind: West, veering north later, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: North 2 to 4, veering northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Showers then fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind: Easterly in far southeast, otherwise northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly, veering northeasterly, 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, veering east 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering north or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Fastnet

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering north or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering north or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Fri 17 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Squally showers then fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Squally showers then fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Fri 17 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon, veering northwesterly later

Wind: West or northwest 7 or gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Squally showers then fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Fri 17 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: West or northwest 7 or gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Squally showers then fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Fri 17 Apr 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Fri 17 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Fri 17 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming 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.