Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High Faeroes 1037 expected Forth 1035 by 0600 tomorrow.

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: In north, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. In south, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: In north, slight or moderate. in south, moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, and 7 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Forties

Wind: In east, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. In west, mainly northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Mainly northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Mainly northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Mainly northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: In west, mainly northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4. In east, northeasterly 2 to 4, backing northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In west, slight. in east, slight, becoming mainly moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: In west, moderate or good. In east, good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

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

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, but elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming mainly east or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far northwest.
Weather: In southeast, occasional rain at first. In northwest, rain at times.
Visibility: In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering southeasterly soon

Wind: In east, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times. In west, southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far west, decreasing 4 in south later.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough. in west, rough or very rough.
Weather: In east, thundery showers. In west, thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in southwest, but elsewhere, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 veering and decreasing southeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: East 7 to severe gale 9, veering southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate in far northeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fai.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: In south, easterly 4 to 6. In north, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good. In north, good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.