Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Developing low moving rapidly northeastwards, expected 350 miles west of Shannon 993 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, then sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, then sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, then sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In northeast, southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. In southwest, southerly 3 to 5 veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In northeast, moderate or rough. in southwest, slight or moderate.
Weather: In northeast, rain, then sleet later. In southwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5 veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5 veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5 veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5 veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain or snow later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate to very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in north.
Weather: Showers, then rain or snow later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate to very poor later.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5 veering west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming northwest 4 to 6, veering east 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Portland

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming northwest 4 to 6, veering east 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming northwest 4 to 6, veering east 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 at first in southwest, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 in southeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4 becoming northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7. In northwest, northwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: In southeast, showers, fog patches at first. In northwest, showers.
Visibility: In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first. In northwest, moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: In west, northwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. In east, westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In west, showers. In east, occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: In west, moderate or good. In east, good, occasionally poor at first.

Lundy

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West, backing south or southeast later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in north.
Weather: Squally showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly later

Wind: West, backing south or southeast later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time.
Weather: Squally showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:58 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, very rough or high in west.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:58 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, 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.