Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected southern eastern 1009 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sat 2 May 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 2 May 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 3 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain until later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain until later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain until later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Variable becoming northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Fisher

Wind: South becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: South becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, decreasing 2 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 1 May 2026

Wind: Variable, mainly west, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in far east.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in far east.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east, and rough at first in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: North or northeast backing west or southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.