Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 15 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 15 Apr 2026 for the period 13:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 15 Apr 2026 to 13:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 16 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Sole, Shannon, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 0600

Atlantic low 984 expected Bailey 994 by 0600 tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties

Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly 4 to 6 later in Forties. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in North Utsire and South Utsire and very rough later except in Forties. Rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Cromarty, Forth, Tyne

Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east Cromarty. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor

Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber

Southeast, veering southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in Fisher and 3 in German Bight. Moderate in Dogger, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast Fisher and German Bight and rough in northwest Fisher. Showers, thundery in Humber. Good, occasionally poor

Thames, Dover

Southeast veering southwest, 4 or 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Wight, but rough or very rough in Plymouth. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay

Southwesterly 4 to 6 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. Rain. Good, occasionally moderate

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5 later in southeast. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in northwest. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Southeast FitzRoy

Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Rough or very rough. Rain. Good, occasionally moderate

Northwest FitzRoy

Southwesterly backing southerly, 5 to 7. Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Sole

Southwest 6 to gale 8, backing south 5 to 7. Very rough, occasionally high in west. Thundery showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet

Southwest 6 or 7 decreasing 4 or 5. Moderate or rough at first in Lundy, otherwise rough or very rough. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Irish Sea

South or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5. Moderate or rough occasionally slight. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon

Southwest 6 to gale 8, backing south 4 to 6. Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. Thundery showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides

Cyclonic, mainly southeast, becoming southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in Hebrides. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Bailey

Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Rough. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes

Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in Fair Isle. Rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 4 or less. Rough, occasionally very rough at first. Rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor