Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low FitzRoy 1004 expected Trafalgar 1005 by midnight tonight. High netherlands 1028 dissipating by same time.

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in the utsires.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first, otherwise southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in the utsires.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in utsires, otherwise southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in the utsires.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in the utsires.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

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

German Bight

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

Humber

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Wind: In south, cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east. In north, cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time later in west.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough. in north, occasionally moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: In south, thundery showers. In north, rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In south, cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time west, becoming variable 3 or less later in east. In north, cyclonic 3 to 5, but northerly 6 to gale 8 at first in far west, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in far southwest. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, rain or thundery showers. In north, showers, thundery, fog patches later.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest later, 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic then sotheasterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
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 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10 now decreased severe gale force 9 and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, and veering southerly soon

Wind: Southeasterly veering southerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and later.
Sea state: High, occasionally very high at first in west, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.

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.