Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 22 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Wed 22 Apr 2026 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 22 Apr 2026 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 23 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Plymouth, Biscay, FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet and Shannon.

The general synopsis at 1800

New high expected Fair Isle 1034 by 1800 Wednesday

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Northeast Forties

Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 in South Utsire and southern North Utsire. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in South Utsire. Mainly fair. Moderate or good

Southwest Forties, Cromarty

Northeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight in southwest Forties, smooth or slight in Cromarty. Occasional drizzle at first. Moderate or good

Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor in Dogger

Fisher

North or northwest 3 or 4 increasing 4 to 6. Slight becoming moderate. Fair. Good, occasionally poor at first

German Bight

Variable mainly northeast 2 to 4, backing northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor

Humber

East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Thames, Dover

East or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Wight, Portland

East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except in northwest Portland. Mainly fair. Good

Plymouth

East 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers. Moderate or good

Biscay

East 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east. Thundery rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast Trafalgar

Variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain at first. Moderate or good

Northwest Trafalgar

Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far northwest. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor

FitzRoy

Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east. Thundery rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Sole

East 6 to gale 8 veering southeast 4 to 6. High at first in far west, otherwise rough or very rough. Thundery rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in Lundy and Fastnet and 4 in Irish Sea. Rough or very rough in southwest Fastnet and slight or moderate in east Lundy and Irish Sea, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Occasional rain in Fastnet. Good, occasionally moderate in Fastnet

Shannon

Easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south, veering southeasterly 5 to 7 later. High at first in far southwest, otherwise rough or very rough. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall

Easterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in southwest. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in far southwest. Showers in south. Good

Malin, Hebrides, South Bailey

Easterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

North Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes

Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good

Southeast Iceland

Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor