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 17:25 (UTC+1) on Wed 22 Apr 2026 for the period 19:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 22 Apr 2026 to 19:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 23 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in FitzRoy and Shannon.

The general synopsis at midday

New high expected Tyne 1034 by midday Thursday.

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in North Utsire. Slight or moderate. Fair. Moderate or good

South Utsire

Northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first

East Forties

Northwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Moderate or good

West Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, West Dogger

Easterly or northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth Cromarty and Forth. Fair. Moderate or good

East Dogger

Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, backing northwesterly 3 to 5. Slight, becoming mainly moderate. Fair. Good

Fisher, German Bight

Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Fair. Moderate or good

Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight

East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in Humber. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Portland, Plymouth

Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in Plymouth. Slight or moderate in Portland, but moderate or rough in Plymouth. Showers at first. Moderate or good

Biscay

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming mainly east or northeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Moderate or good

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7. In southeast, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far northwest. In southeast, occasional rain at first. In northwest, rain at times. In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

East FitzRoy

Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Showers. Moderate or good

West FitzRoy

Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later in west Sole. Rough or very rough in west Sole, but moderate or rough in east Sole and Fastnet, and slight or moderate in Lundy. Showers at first. Moderate or good

Irish Sea

East or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in north. Fair. Good

Shannon, Southwest Rockall

Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in Shannon, decreasing 4 at times later. Moderate or rough, but occasionally very rough at first in Rockall and until later in Shannon. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Northeast Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, South Bailey

Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Moderate or good

North Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes

Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northeast. Slight or moderate. Fair, fog patches in northeast. Good, occasionally very poor in northeast