Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New high expected Tyne 1034 by midday Thursday.

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Forties

Wind: In east, northwesterly 3 to 5. In west, easterly or northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, slight.
Weather: In east, fair. In west, fair.
Visibility: In east, moderate or good. In west, moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: In west, easterly or northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4. In east, northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, backing northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In west, slight. in east, slight, becoming mainly moderate.
Weather: In west, fair. In east, fair.
Visibility: In west, moderate or good. In east, good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming mainly east or northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

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

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In east, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 to 4. In west, southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough. in west, rough or very rough.
Weather: In east, showers. In west, rain then showers.
Visibility: In east, moderate or good. In west, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, but moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: In southwest, easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later. In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate or rough, but occasionally very rough at first. in northeast, slight or moderate.
Weather: In southwest, occasional rain. In northeast, fair.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: In south, easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. In north, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: In south, fair . In north, fair.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good. In north, good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair, fog patches in northeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor in northeast.

Shipping forecast information

The shipping forecast is issued four times a day at 2300, 0500, 1100, 1700 UTC and covers a period of 24 hours from 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 UTC respectively.

The waters around the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas shown on the map.

The forecast contains details of gale warnings in force, a general synopsis and sea-area forecasts containing wind direction and force, sea state, weather and visibility.

Gale warnings are issued as required throughout the day (for winds of Gale Force 8 or more).

Marine forecasts disclaimer

In the UK, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is responsible for the provision of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) to ships at sea, which includes the broadcast of warnings and forecasts. The Met Office initiates warnings and prepares routine forecasts for dissemination on behalf of the MCA.

Caution: The internet is not part of the Maritime Safety Information system and should never be relied upon as the only means to obtain the latest forecast and warning information. Access to the service may be interrupted or delayed from time to time, updates may also be delayed.

Please refer to GMDSS services, INMARSAT SafetyNET or international NAVTEX for the latest information. When using these web pages, always check that the page on your screen is not from your cache. Use the Refresh or Reload button if in any doubt.