Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Tuesday 5 May 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC+1) on Tue 5 May 2026 for the period 07:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 5 May 2026 to 07:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 6 May 2026 .

The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected 100 miles south of Iceland 1009 by midnight tonight

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, but variable 3 or 4 at first in South Utsire. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough for a time in Viking. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps wintry. Good, occasionally poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth

Cyclonic, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later in Cromarty. Slight or moderate. Showers. Moderate or good

Tyne, Dogger

Cyclonic, becoming northwest later , 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate, occasionally rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Fisher

North or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

German Bight

Variable 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then becoming northeast later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Humber, Thames, Dover

Northeast 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 at first in Humber. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Wight

Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good

Portland, Plymouth

North or northeast 4 or 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in Plymouth. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor in south

Biscay

Westerly or northwesterly, veering northerly later in north, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

North 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate, but slight or moderate until later in southeast. Showers. Good.

FitzRoy, Sole

North or northwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet

North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in Fastnet. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in west Fastnet. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Irish Sea

North or northwest, veering northeast later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Shannon

North or northwest 3 to 5. Mainly moderate. Showers. Good

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

North or northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 5 or 6 later in Bailey. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north Hebrides and north Bailey. Showers, occasional rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Fair Isle, Faeroes

North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or wintry showers. Good, occasionally very poor

Southeast Iceland

Northerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or wintry showers. Good, occasionally very poor