Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

Low moving rapidly northeast, expected 200 miles west of Rockall 979 by 0600 tomorrow. New high expected Portland 1023 by same time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In west, southerly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 5. In east, southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: In west, moderate or rough occasionally very rough. in east, rough or very rough, occasionally high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: In west, rain. In east, rain or sleet.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. In southwest, southerly 3 to 5 veering westerly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: In northeast, moderate or rough. in southwest, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: In northeast, rain. In southwest, rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5 veering westerly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5 veering westerly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5 veering westerly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5 veering westerly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Humber

Wind: South 3 to 5 veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: South 3 to 5 veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: West 3 to 5 veering northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: West 3 to 5 veering northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: West 3 to 5 veering northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest, veering southeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 at first in southwest, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 in southeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northwesterly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7, becoming cyclonic later. In northwest, northwesterly 6 becoming variable 4, then southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 6 becoming variable 4, then southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest, backing south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest, backing south later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: West or northwest, backing south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

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

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

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

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West, backing southeast later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: West, backing southeast later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly later

Wind: West, backing southeast later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:58 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
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.