Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midday

High Rockall 1030 expected Forties 1033 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable becoming northwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: In east, northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4. In west, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In east, moderate becoming slight. in west, slight or moderate.
Weather: In east, fair. In west, showers at first, fog patches.
Visibility: In east, good. In west, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dogger

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight, becoming slight or moderate, but occasionally smooth in northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Thames

Wind: Variable becoming northeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, then 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable becoming northeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, then 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable becoming northeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, then 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, veering northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, veering northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but 3 or 4 until later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 25 Apr 2026

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7. In northwest, northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, moderate, occasionally slight at first in east.
Weather: In southeast, thundery showers. In northwest, mainly fair.
Visibility: In southeast, good occasionally poor. In northwest, good.

Sole

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight at first in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but southerly 4 or 5 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in far northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate, then rough later in northwest.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough except in far southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable, mainly southwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.