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 17:25 (UTC+1) on Mon 4 May 2026 for the period 19:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 4 May 2026 to 19:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 5 May 2026 .

The general synopsis at midday

High Humber 1016 dissipating by midday tomorrow. New low expected Forties 1012 by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time, then occasionally 6 later. Moderate, becoming slight in eastern South Utsire and rough later in north Viking. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps wintry. Good, occasionally poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth

Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, then becoming north later. Smooth or slight until later in west Cromarty and west Forth, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later

Tyne, Dogger

Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 4 to 6 later. Slight, becoming moderate later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Fisher

West 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later

German Bight, Humber

Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 3 to 5 later in Humber. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in northwest Humber. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Thames, Dover, Southeast Wight

Northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first

Northwest Wight, Portland, Plymouth, North Biscay

Variable 3 or less becoming cyclonic mainly northerly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in southwest Plymouth and north Biscay, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor in south Portland and moderate elsewhere

South Biscay

Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

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

FitzRoy, Sole

Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet

North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in Fastnet. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east Lundy and northeast Fastnet. Showers, perhaps thundery at first in Lundy. Good, occasionally moderate

Irish Sea, Shannon

North or northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight in Irish Sea, slight or moderate in Shannon. Showers. Good

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

Northwest 3 to 5 veering north or northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later except in Malin. Slight or moderate in Malin and southeast Hebrides, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Fair Isle, Faeroes

Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming north 4 to 6, backing northwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Rain or wintry showers. Good, occasionally very poor

Southeast Iceland

Northwesterly 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in southwest. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east and slight in west. Sleet or snow showers. Good, occasionally very poor