Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Tuesday 28 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 28 Apr 2026 for the period 13:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 28 Apr 2026 to 13:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 29 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Portland, Plymouth and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 0600

High Viking 1032 expected Forties 1033 by 0600 tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking

Variable 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate later in far northwest. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally poor

North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties

Northwesterly, but variable in Forties, 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 for a time in South Utsire. Slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor

Cromarty

South or southeast 3 to 5. Slight. Fair. Good

Forth

Variable 2 to 4. Slight. Fair. Good

Tyne, Dogger

Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in Dogger. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Fisher

Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good

German Bight, Humber

Northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later in German Bight. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in German Bight. Fair. Good

Thames

Northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good

Dover, Wight

Northeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in Wight. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in Wight. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first

Portland, Plymouth

East or northeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay, FitzRoy

Easterly or northeasterly, cyclonic in south, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in southeast FitzRoy. Slight or moderate in Biscay, moderate or rough in FitzRoy. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Northerly at first in west, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in southeast. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Thundery showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate becoming rough later in Sole, slight or moderate becoming moderate later in Lundy and slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later in Fastnet. Showers, perhaps thundery later in Sole. Good, occasionally poor later in Sole

Irish Sea, Shannon

East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate in Irish Sea, moderate becoming moderate or rough later in Shannon. Fair. Good

Northwest Rockall

Southerly 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Drizzle. Moderate or good

Southeast Rockall, Malin

Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4. Moderate, occasionally slight at first in Malin, becoming moderate or rough later. Fog patches at first in Malin. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in Malin

Hebrides

South 3 to 5. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Bailey

South 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough. Drizzle. Moderate or good occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in north. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later in west. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Faeroes

Southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west. Drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north. Rough or very rough. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor