Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Southeast Iceland 988 losing its identity

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

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

Storm force 10 backing westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

North Utsire

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

Northwesterly storm force 10 now decreased severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

South Utsire

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 or northwesterly mainly 6 to gale 8, but severe gale 9 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: High becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Forties

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

Violent storm force 11 backing westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Storm force 10 backing westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Storm force 10 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Storm force 10 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

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

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, but in northeast, rough or very rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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 mainly 6 to gale 8, but severe gale 9 at first in northeast, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: High at first in north and east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

German Bight

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

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Humber

Wind: West 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: In northeast, rough becoming moderate, but in southwest, slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: West 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: West 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: West 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in south, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Lundy

Wind: West or southwest backing southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: West or southwest backing southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or southwest backing southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in west.
Weather: Showers then 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: Westerly at first in northeast, otherwise southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in west.
Weather: Showers then 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: Westerly backing southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

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

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

Wind: West 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then southeast 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain later.
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: West 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then southeast 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in far west.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

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

Northwesterly storm force 10 now decreased severe gale force 9, backing westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in south, then becoming southeasterly 7 or gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain later.
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: Northeasterly 4 to 6, veering southeasterly gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in southwest.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain later.
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.