Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

High FitzRoy 1022 expected Sole 1026 by 1800 Sunday, high Faeroes 1027 expected Norwegian Basin with little change

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 25 Apr 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, but northerly 4 or 5 at first in east, becoming southerly 2 or 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast becoming variable, then south, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Northeast, veering southeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 or 3 at first.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 or 3 at first.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 or 3 at first.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 or 3 at first except in west.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northerly in northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 until later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 or 4 later except in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 or 4 later. In north, southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4, then northwesterly later.
Sea state: In south, slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. in north, smooth or slight.
Weather: In south, mainly fair. In north, showers later.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: South or southwest becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

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

Malin

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, but variable 2 or 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 or 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Fair, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 or 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Fair, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 or 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Fair, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.