Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 6 May 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Wed 6 May 2026 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 6 May 2026 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 7 May 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Bailey and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 1800

New low expected Bailey 1003 by 1800 Wednesday. New high expected Forties 1016 by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Moderate. Showers, perhaps wintry. Good, occasionally poor

South Utsire

Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in east. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Showers. Good

Forties

Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Cromarty, Forth

Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate in east Cromarty, and also at first in east Forth, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good

Tyne, Dogger

Northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in southeast Dogger, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover

North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate at first in Wight and Plymouth, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Biscay

Westerly at first in south, otherwise northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first

Trafalgar

Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 just south of portugal, decreasing 3 at times elsewhere. Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast. Showers. Good

FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

Northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less except in south FitzRoy. Smooth or slight in Lundy and northeast Fastnet, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Irish Sea

Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in north. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good

Shannon

North or northwest, backing southwest later, 2 to 4. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Showers. Good

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Southeast Bailey

Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate in east Malin and southeast Hebrides, but elsewhere moderate throughout. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate in Malin and poor elsewhere

Northwest Bailey

Variable 3 or less becoming northeasterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Moderate becoming rough, then occasionally very rough later. Rain or wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Rough at first in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Wintry showers, then rain later in west. Good, occasionally poor

Faeroes

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6 later, increasing 7 later in west. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers, then rain in south. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest. Slight at first in far west, otherwise moderate or rough. Sleet or snow showers. Good, occasionally very poor