Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 2 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC+1) on Thu 2 Apr 2026 for the period 07:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 2 Apr 2026 to 07:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 3 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in South Utsire, Fisher, Rockall, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected Malin 995 by midnight tonight

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking

North 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor

North Utsire, South Utsire

Northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasional gale 8 later in South Utsire, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

North 4 to 6, backing south 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in Forties and Cromarty. Moderate or rough. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later

Fisher, German Bight

Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in northeast Fisher. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Humber, Thames, Dover

Northwest backing southwest later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later

Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay

Northwest backing west or southwest later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in Plymouth and Biscay. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

North or northwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in southeast. Fair. Good.

South FitzRoy

Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good

North FitzRoy, Sole

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in Fastnet. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later

Shannon

West or southwest 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall

Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming west 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Malin, Hebrides

Cyclonic becoming west later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in Hebrides. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Bailey

Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming west 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough. Rain or wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

North 3 to 5, cyclonic then southeast 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northwest. Rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 3 to 5 later in Southeast Iceland. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in Southeast Iceland. Wintry showers or sleet. Moderate or poor, occasionally good later