Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

New high expected Humber 1024 by 1800 Friday. High Fair Isle 1032 dissipating

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 24 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 25 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in far north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

Cromarty

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

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind: In west, variable 2 to 4. In east, northwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: In west, slight. in east, moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in south.

Trafalgar

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 to 5 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, but rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: East 4 to 6, veering southeast 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East 4 to 6, veering southeast 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in northeast, slight or moderate in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

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

Rockall

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, backing east 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in southwest.
Weather: Showers in southwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in southwest.

Malin

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, backing east 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

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

Bailey

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

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

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.