Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High netherlands 1028 expected German Bight 1030 by midday tomorrow. New low expected south FitzRoy 1007 by same time

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, but 6 or 7 in far southeast, veering westerly or southwesterly later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 in west, perhaps severe gale 9 later in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate at first in southeast, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high in west, rough or very rough in east.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 22:40 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, very rough or high in west.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 veering southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 in southeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in north and west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 22:40 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: In east, southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times. In west, southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. in west, rough or very rough, becoming high for a time.
Weather: In east, occasional rain. In west, rain.
Visibility: In east, moderate or good, occasionally poor later. In west, moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly gale 8 to storm 10 veering southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 later in east.
Sea state: Rough at first in northeast, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or 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.