Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Monday 20 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC+1) on Mon 20 Apr 2026 for the period 13:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 20 Apr 2026 to 13:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 21 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Trafalgar, FitzRoy, Sole and Shannon.

The general synopsis at 0600

New low expected FitzRoy 994 by 0600 tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Northeast Forties

Southeasterly 4 to 6 at first in Viking, South Utsire and northeast Forties, otherwise northerly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later

Southwest Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally poor at first

Fisher

East 4 to 6, backing north 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north Fisher. Fair. Good

German Bight

Northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain at first. Good occasionally moderate

Humber, Thames

North or northeast 3 or 4, veering northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate

Dover, Wight

Northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers, later in Wight. Good

Portland, Plymouth

East 5 or 6, increasing 6 or 7 later in Plymouth. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Mainly fair. Good

Biscay

Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise easterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Fog patches at first in south, thundery showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in south

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise easterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later. Slight at first in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west. Thundery showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Sole

East 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in west. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate

Lundy, Fastnet

East 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later in Fastnet. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, but later in Lundy. Mainly fair. Good

Irish Sea

Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Good

Shannon, Rockall

East or northeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in Shannon. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in south Shannon. Showers. Good occasionally moderate

Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

Northeast 3 to 5, veering east 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good occasionally moderate

Fair Isle

East 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west, backing northeast 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, but rough for a time in far west. Showers. Good occasionally moderate

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Occasional drizzle. Good occasionally poor