Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Tuesday 21 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC+1) on Tue 21 Apr 2026 for the period 13:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 21 Apr 2026 to 13:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 22 Apr 2026 .

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

The general synopsis at 0600

Low southwest FitzRoy 994 expected 300 miles west of FitzRoy 974 by 0600 tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties

Northerly 3 to 5, backing northwesterly 4 to 6 later in North Utsire and South Utsire. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor

Cromarty

Northeast 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Occasional drizzle. Good occasionally moderate

Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Fisher

Northeast backing northwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6. Slight becoming moderate. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor

German Bight

Northeast backing north later, 3 to 5. Slight. Mainly fair. Good occasionally poor later

Humber, Thames, Dover

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

Wight, Portland

East or northeast 5 to 7. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first

Plymouth

East 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain later. Good occasionally moderate later

Biscay

Easterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest. Moderate or rough. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in far northwest. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good occasionally poor

Sole

East 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in far west. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet

East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in Fastnet. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in west Fastnet. Occasional rain later in Fastnet. Good, occasionally moderate later in Fastnet

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south. Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in far southwest. Occasional rain. Good occasionally poor

Rockall

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

Malin, Hebrides

East 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in west, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Good

Bailey

Easterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 in north. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Good

Fair Isle

North or northeast, becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 in Southeast Iceland. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate