Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 30 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 17:25 (UTC+1) on Thu 30 Apr 2026 for the period 19:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 30 Apr 2026 to 19:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 1 May 2026 .

The general synopsis at midday

Low southwest Sole 1012 expected Shannon 1015 by midday tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Moderate or good

South Utsire

Westerly or northwesterly backing southerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Moderate or good

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later in east Cromarty. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in Cromarty. Fair, showers later. Moderate or good

Fisher, German Bight

Variable 2 to 4 at first in east Fisher, otherwise easterly or southeasterly veering southerly or southeasterly, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth at first in German Bight, and moderate at times later in Fisher. Fair. Moderate or good

Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight

East veering southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, except in Humber. Slight, occasionally moderate until later in Humber, and smooth at times later. Fair. Good, occasionally poor later

Portland, Plymouth

Cyclonic 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, but becoming slight or smooth in Portland. Showers, thundery at first in Plymouth, fog patches developing for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time

Biscay, South FitzRoy

Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly easterly or northeasterly in Biscay. Moderate, occasionally slight in Biscay. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally poor.

North FitzRoy, Sole

Cyclonic, mainly south or southwesterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times. Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

East or southeast 3 to 5, veering mainly south or southwest, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in Irish Sea, elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers, fog patches developing. Good, occasionally very poor

Shannon, Rockall

Cyclonic, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in west. Moderate, occasionally rough in west Shannon. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Malin, Hebrides

Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north Hebrides. Showers later. Moderate or good

Bailey

Cyclonic, mainly west or northwest backing west or southwest for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Fair Isle

Southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, becoming variable at times in south. Moderate or rough, becoming mainly slight or moderate. Rain later. Moderate or good

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in Southeast Iceland. Moderate or rough. Rain. Moderate or good