Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midnight

Low 200 miles west of Bailey 1012 expected Bailey 1001 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Wed 6 May 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 6 May 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 7 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers, wintry at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers, wintry at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east, veering northeasterly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 to 6 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northeasterly veering southeasterly 2 to 4, veering southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: In northwest, northeasterly veering southeasterly 2 to 4, veering southerly 3 to 5 later. In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: In northwest, good. In southeast, good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 5 May 2026

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 just south of portugal, decreasing 3 at times elsewhere.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In north, northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first in south.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally moderate. In north, good.

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in northeast, slight or moderate in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: Northwest backing west, then southwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, but in west, moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Wed 6 May 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6. In northwest, easterly 3 to 5 backing northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate, occasionally rough later. in northwest, moderate becoming rough, then very rough later.
Weather: In southeast, rain or showers. In northwest, rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: West 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Wed 6 May 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or northeast 4 to 6, then cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 5 May 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west and later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: 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.