Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low 400 miles west of Bailey 971 expected west of Iceland 975 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first and very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In east, southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. In west, southeasterly, veering westerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first and very rough later. in west, slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly, veering westerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, veering west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Variable becoming southwest, 2 to 4, then west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable becoming southwest, 2 to 4, then west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable becoming southwest, 2 to 4, then west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in northeast.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 veering northeasterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5 in east but 6 to gale 8 in west, occasionally severe gale 9 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, very rough or high in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7, perhaps gale 8 later, in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Sole

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first, becoming rough or very rough in southwest.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, veering west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but slight or moderate in southeast, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing, veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, but 4 to 6 in east, veering southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:40 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming high in southwest.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

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.