Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 23 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC+1) on Thu 23 Apr 2026 for the period 07:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 23 Apr 2026 to 07:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 24 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in South Utsire, Fisher and FitzRoy.

The general synopsis at midnight

High Cromarty 1035 expected Faeroes 1031 by midnight tonight. Low Biscay 1015 losing its identity

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southern North Utsire. Slight or moderate in Viking, moderate throughout in North Utsire. Fair. Good

South Utsire

Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good

East Forties

Northwesterly 4 or 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

West Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, West Dogger

Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Smooth or slight in Cromarty and Forth, but elsewhere slight throughout. Fog patches later. Good, occasionally very poor later

East Dogger

Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Fisher, German Bight

Northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in Fisher. Slight or moderate at first in south German Bight, otherwise moderate or rough. Fair. Good

Humber, Thames

North or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in Thames and 2 in Humber. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 except in northeast Dover. Moderate or rough in Plymouth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Fair. Moderate or good

Biscay

Easterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming cyclonic later in south. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers later. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Southerly 4 to 6 at first in west, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Very rough at first in far northwest, otherwise moderate or rough. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

East FitzRoy

Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in north. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in south. Thundery showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

West FitzRoy

Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 3 or 4. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west Sole and Lundy. Slight or moderate in Lundy, elsewhere mainly moderate or rough, but very rough at first in far west of Sole. Showers in Sole. Moderate or good

Irish Sea

East or southeast 4 to 6 backing east or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in north. Fair. Good

Shannon, Rockall

East or southeast 4 to 6. Rough or very rough at first in southwest Shannon, otherwise moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good

Malin, Hebrides, South Bailey

Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in Malin. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east Malin and east Hebrides. Mainly fair. Good

North Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes

Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in south Fair Isle, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in north. Slight or moderate. Fog patches at first in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north