Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 29 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 29 Apr 2026 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 29 Apr 2026 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 30 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Wight, Portland, Plymouth and Lundy.

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Spain 1005 expected Biscay with little change by 1800 Wednesday. High Forties 1033 slow-moving with little change

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking

West, backing southwest, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good occasionally moderate

North Utsire

Northwesterly 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

South Utsire

Northwesterly 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Mainly fair. Good, becoming poor later

Forties

Variable 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair. Good

Cromarty, Forth, Tyne

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth except in Tyne. Mainly fair. Good occasionally poor

Dogger

East 3 to 5. Slight occasionally moderate. Fair. Good

Fisher

North or northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor later

Northeast German Bight

Northeasterly, becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight occasionally smooth. Fair. Good

Southwest German Bight, Humber

Easterly 4 to 6. Moderate occasionally slight. Fair. Good

Thames, Dover

Northeast 5 to 7. Moderate occasionally rough. Fair. Good

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Northeast, veering east, 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in Plymouth. Showers. Good

Biscay

Northeast, veering east, 4 to 6, but cyclonic in far south. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far northwest. Thundery showers. Good occasionally poor

Trafalgar

West 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate. Thundery showers. Good occasionally moderate

FitzRoy

Northeast 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

Northeast, veering east, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in Lundy. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later except in Lundy. Showers. Good, occasionally poor later

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

East, backing northeast, 4 to 6. Moderate becoming rough, occasionally very rough later in far south. Showers later in south. Good, occasionally moderate later in south

Northwest Rockall

Southeasterly 3 or 4. Rough, occasionally moderate at first. Fair. Good

Southeast Rockall, Malin

Southeasterly, backing easterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Moderate becoming rough. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor at first

Hebrides

South 3 to 5. Rough, occasionally moderate at first. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Bailey

South 4 to 6. Rough or very rough. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Southwest 2 to 4, backing south 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Faeroes

Southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly 5 to 7. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Moderate occasionally poor