Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High Fisher 1034 expected Denmark 1033 by midday tomorrow. New low expected FitzRoy 1012

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 30 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southerly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor and very poor later.

Forties

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

Cromarty

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, but northwesterly 5 or 6 in far northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: In north, variable 2 or 3. In south, easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: In north, slight or moderate. in south, slight or moderate, but smooth or slight until later in south.
Weather: In north, fog patches later. In south, fair.
Visibility: In north, good, occasionally very poor later. In south, good.

Humber

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

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

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East or northeast, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:44 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: East or northeast, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:44 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: East or northeast, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
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: East or northeast becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 07:01 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected imminent

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery 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 8 at first, veering southeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 07:01 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected imminent

Wind: Northeast veering east, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering southeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeasterly becoming cyclonic later 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4, then cyclonic 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4, then cyclonic 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but rough or very rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.