Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 8 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC+1) on Wed 8 Apr 2026 for the period 13:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 8 Apr 2026 to 13:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 9 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Trafalgar, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 0600

Low 500 miles west of Bailey 970 expected west of Iceland 972 by 0600 tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. Rain. Moderate or good

South Utsire

Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Rain. Moderate or good

Forties

Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast. Moderate, becoming rough in northeast and slight in southwest. Rain. Moderate or good

Cromarty, Forth, Tyne

South 2 to 4, veering southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later

Dogger, Fisher, German Bight

Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, and 7 later in Fisher. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east Fisher and east German Bight, becoming moderate or rough later in Fisher. Showers. Good

Humber, Thames

Southeast veering southwest, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in Humber. Slight, occasionally moderate in Humber, and smooth in Thames. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate

Dover, Wight

Variable 3 or less, becoming west 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good

Portland, Plymouth, Biscay

Variable 4 or less, becoming northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in Plymouth and Biscay. Slight or moderate in Portland, elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in Plymouth. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Cyclonic, 3 to 5 in east but 6 to gale 8 in west, occasionally severe gale 9 in west. Rough or very rough in east, very rough or high in west. Rain or thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

North or northwest 4 to 6. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Thundery showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

Variable 4 or less, becoming southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in Sole. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in Sole and slight elsewhere. Rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Irish Sea

Variable 3 or less, becoming southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Shannon

Southwest 5 to 7 veering west 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides

South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west 7 or gale 8 later in Rockall. Rough or very rough, but slight or moderate in southeast Malin, becoming very rough or high in Rockall. Rain then thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Bailey

South veering southwest, 6 to gale 8. Very rough, becoming high later in southwest. Rain then thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Southerly 6 to gale 8, but 4 to 6 in east Fair Isle, veering southwesterly 5 to 7. Very rough in Southeast Iceland, elsewhere rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east Fair Isle. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor