Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 22 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC+1) on Wed 22 Apr 2026 for the period 07:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 22 Apr 2026 to 07:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 23 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Plymouth, Biscay, FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet and Shannon.

The general synopsis at midnight

Low south Biscay 1004 slow-moving, filling 1015 by midnight tonight

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Northeast Forties

Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 in South Utsire and southern North Utsire. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in South Utsire. Fog patches at first in South Utsire. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in South Utsire

Southwest Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Northeasterly 3 to 5, backing northwesterly later in northeast Dogger but becoming variable 3 or less later elsewhere. Slight or moderate in Tyne and Dogger, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor in east Dogger

Fisher

Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first

German Bight

Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first

Humber

East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Thames, Dover, Wight

East or northeast 4 to 6. Moderate or rough at first in northwest Wight, otherwise slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Portland, Plymouth

Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in Plymouth. Slight or moderate in southeast Portland, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Showers. Moderate or good

Biscay

Easterly 6 to gale 8 at first in north, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Thundery rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7. In southeast, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far northwest. In southeast, occasional rain at first. In northwest, rain at times. In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and 4 in east. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

East or southeast 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6. Rough or very rough in Sole and southwest Fastnet, but elsewhere, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor except in Lundy

Irish Sea

East or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Shannon

East 7 to severe gale 9 veering southeast 5 to 7. Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate in far northeast. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

South Rockall

Easterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Very rough until later in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

North Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, South Bailey

Easterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in north Rockall, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Fair. Good

North Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes

Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in south Fair Isle, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good

Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor