Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Monday 4 May 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC+1) on Mon 4 May 2026 for the period 07:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 4 May 2026 to 07:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 5 May 2026 .

The general synopsis at midnight

Low cornwall 1011 losing its identity by midnight tonight. New low expected northern Scotland 1014 by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Westerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in Viking. Moderate, occasionally slight at first. Rain, wintry showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

South Utsire

Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally slight at first. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Forties, Cromarty

West or southwest 3 to ,5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate in Forties, but in Cromarty smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in northeast. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Variable, mainly southwest at first, 4 or less, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later in Forth. Smooth or slight in Forth, otherwise slight. Rain. Moderate or good

Fisher

West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast. Showers. Good

German Bight

Variable, becoming northeast, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Showers later. Good

Humber

Northeast becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Rain and fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first

Thames, Dover, Wight

Variable 4 or less, becoming northeast 3 to 5. In Thames smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later, elsewhere smooth, occasionally slight later. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery in Thames, fog banks, fair later. Moderate to very poor, becoming good later

Portland, Plymouth, Biscay

Variable, mainly northwest later, 4 or less. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in Biscay. Showers, thundery except in Plymouth. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast. Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast. Showers. Good.

FitzRoy, Sole

Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 until later in east. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough in west. Rain or showers, thundery in FitzRoy. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet

Cyclonic at first in Lundy, otherwise north or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. In Lundy smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west, but in Fastnet slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in northeast. Rain or showers, thundery in Lundy. Good, occasionally poor

Irish Sea

Northeast 3 to 5 backing north or northwest 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far south. Showers. Good

Shannon

North or northwest 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south and slight later in northeast. Showers. Good

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

West or northwest 3 to 5, veering north 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in Bailey. Smooth or slight in southeast Malin, and moderate or rough in Bailey, elsewhere moderate, occasionally rough later except in Malin. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Fair Isle, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first and very rough later. Rain, wintry showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor