Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Faeroes 985 expected 200 miles north of Iceland 1001 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Mon 13 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 13 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 14 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:40 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:43 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: South backing southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: South backing southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest, backing southeast for a time, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 until later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first, then becoming smooth at times.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest, backing southeast for a time, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 until later.
Sea state: Slight, becoming smooth at times.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest, backing southeast for a time, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 until later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first, then becoming smooth at times.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 except in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, backing south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest backing southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate at times in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate at times in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Rough occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southwest, backing southeast later, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: South or southwest, backing southeast later, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:43 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8 backing south or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:42 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In east, southwest 6 to gale 8 backing south or southeast 4 to 6. In west, cyclonic, becoming mainly southeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. in west, moderate or rough.
Weather: In east, showers, squally at first. In west, showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming mainly southeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
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.