Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New high expected Humber 1023 by midnight tonight. High Faeroes 1030 dissipating

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Fri 24 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 24 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 25 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 or 3 at first in west, otherwise northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in west.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable, becoming north later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in northeast.
Weather: Fog patches at first, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forth

Wind: Variable, becoming north later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Dogger

Wind: In west, variable 2 to 4. In east, northwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: In west, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first. In east, good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Fri 24 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Northeast becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Thames

Wind: Northeast becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 to 5 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: East 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in northeast, slight or moderate in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, veering south 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in southwest.
Weather: Thundery showers in southwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: East 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

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

Bailey

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

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5, then veering north 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5, then veering north 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly 3 to 5, veering northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

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.