Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low 50 miles south of Iceland 994 losing its identity

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Mon 13 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 13 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 14 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Forties

Wind: In northeast, southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In southwest, southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: In northeast, showers then rain. In southwest, showers at first.
Visibility: In northeast, good, becoming moderate or poor for a time. In southwest, good, occasionally moderate at first.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Fisher

Wind: Easterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: In east, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later. In west, variable 3 or less becoming southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east, smooth or slight. in west, slight or moderate.
Weather: In east, showers at first. In west, showers, then rain later.
Visibility: In east, moderate or good. In west, good, occasionally poor later.

Portland

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Plymouth

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northeast, moderate or rough in southwest.
Weather: Showers then rain, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 for a time. In southeast, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In northwest, showers then rain, fog patches developing. In southeast, occasional rain later.
Visibility: In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southeast, good, occasionally moderate later.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time, then veering south or southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers then rain, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time, then veering south or southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northeast, moderate or rough in southwest.
Weather: Showers then rain, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers then rain, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5 backing southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Malin

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5 backing southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5 backing southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5 backing southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly backing southeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly backing southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: In southeast, southerly backing southeasterly, 4 to 6. In northwest, cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In southeast, showers, becoming fair later. In northwest, showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally moderate at first. In northwest, 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.