Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low cornwall 1011 losing its identity by midnight tonight. New low expected northern Scotland 1014 by same time

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Mon 4 May 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 4 May 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 5 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: West or southwest 3 to ,5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: West or southwest 3 to ,5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in northeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable, mainly southwest at first, 4 or less, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable, mainly southwest at first, 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable, mainly southwest at first, 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable, becoming northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Northeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Rain and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Thames

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog banks, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good later.

Dover

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog banks, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good later.

Wight

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog banks, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good later.

Portland

Wind: Variable, mainly northwest later, 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable, mainly northwest later, 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable, mainly northwest later, 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 3 May 2026

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 until later in east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 until later in east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5 backing north or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south and slight later in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, veering north 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, veering north 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, elsewhere moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, veering north 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, veering north 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first and very rough later.
Weather: Rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first and very rough later.
Weather: Rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first and very rough later.
Weather: Rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.