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 17:25 (UTC+1) on Tue 5 May 2026 for the period 19:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 5 May 2026 to 19:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 6 May 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Bailey and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at midday

Low 250 miles southwest of Iceland 1020, expected 250 miles south of Iceland 1001 by midday tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later except in South Utsire. Moderate occasionally rough at first in Viking, moderate occasionally slight elsewhere. Showers, perhaps wintry. Good, occasionally poor

Forties

North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Cromarty, Forth

North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Tyne, Dogger

Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Fisher

Cyclonic becoming north 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate

German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover

Northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later in Dover. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east Wight, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in Portland, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Biscay

Cyclonic, mainly west or northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain or thundery showers. 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, Lundy, Fastnet

North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in FitzRoy and Sole, otherwise smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west Fastnet. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Irish Sea

Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Shannon

North backing west 2 to 4. Moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides

Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Moderate, occasionally rough later in Rockall and Hebrides. Showers, occasional rain later in Rockall and Hebrides. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later in Rockall and Hebrides

Bailey

Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Moderate becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough later in far northwest. Rain. Moderate occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Northwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south. Moderate or rough becoming moderate in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast. Wintry showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in Southeast Iceland. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in Southeast Iceland. Wintry showers, rain later in Faeroes. Good, occasionally very poor