Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low moving rapidly northeast, expected 150 miles west of Rockall 958 by 1800 Friday. Low Viking 1005 moving slowly southeast losing its identity

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: In west, cyclonic, becoming southeasterly, 4 to 6. In east, southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: In west, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. in east, very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: In west, showers. In east, sleet then fair.
Visibility: In west, moderate becoming good. In east, poor becoming good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet then fair.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet then fair.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

Forties

Wind: West, backing southeast later, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: West, backing southeast later, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: West, backing southeast later, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Westerly, backing southeasterly later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Westerly, backing southeasterly later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Poor becoming good.

Humber

Wind: Northwest, backing southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northwest, backing southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northwest, backing southeast later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northwest, backing southeast later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northwest, backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest, backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: In southeast, showers. In northwest, mainly fair.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7. In northwest, variable 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: In southeast, rough, occasionally very rough later. in northwest, rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, fair then rain or showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good occasionally poor. In northwest, good occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Variable 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Fair then rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West, backing south or southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good becoming poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:52 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West, backing south or southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good becoming poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West, backing south or southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good becoming poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southerly severe gale force 9 expected soon, veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly storm force 10 expected later, veering southerly later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly storm force 10 expected later, veering southerly later

Wind: West, backing south or southeast, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: West, backing east or southeast, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Easterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: West, backing east or southeast, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

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.

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