Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

High Sole 1024 expected Malin 1030 by 1800 Monday. High German Bight 1027 dissipating

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 3 or less, but southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 until later in west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: South, becoming variable then northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable, becoming northeasterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5 at first, otherwise variable 2 or 3, becoming northeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming northeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, but variable 3 or less for a time in south and later in east, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 25 Apr 2026

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: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. In northwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southeast, slight or moderate, occasionally rough. in northwest, slight or moderate.
Weather: In southeast, showers. In northwest, fair.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Variable, becoming northeasterly later in southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Westerly becoming variable, becoming southwesterly later in northwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Westerly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: 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.