Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Portugal 1006 expected Biscay with little change by midnight tonight. High Forties 1033 slow-moving with little change

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 30 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: West, backing southwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Forties

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

Cromarty

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

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind: East 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Good becoming moderate, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: In northeast, variable 2 to 4. In southwest, easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In northeast, smooth or slight. in southwest, moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: In northeast, mainly fair. In southwest, fair.
Visibility: In northeast, good occasionally poor. In southwest, good.

Humber

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northeast, veering east, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northeast, veering east, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northeast, veering east, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northeast, veering east, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northeast, veering east, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026

Wind: West 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Northeast, veering east, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northeast, veering east, 5 to 7, occasionally gale.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Northeast, veering east, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough, occasionally very rough later in far south.
Weather: Showers later in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in southeast.

Rockall

Wind: In northwest, southeasterly 3 or 4 . In southeast, southeasterly, backing easterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: In northwest, rough, occasionally moderate at first. in southeast, moderate becoming rough.
Weather: In northwest, fair. In southeast, mainly fair.
Visibility: In northwest, good. In southeast, good, occasionally poor at first.

Malin

Wind: Southeasterly, backing easterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, backing south 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate 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.