Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low central England 1009 expected Thames 1009 by midnight tonight. New low expected Bailey 1009 by same time

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sun 3 May 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 3 May 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 4 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northeast backing northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in south.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Tyne

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, backing north 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, backing north 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in south.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in northeast, slight or moderate in southwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

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

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 2 May 2026

Wind: Northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: In west, northerly 4 to 6. In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In west, moderate or rough. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather: In west, showers. In east, thundery showers.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, backing northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, backing northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northeast backing northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough for a time in far north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry 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.