Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Trafalgar 1004 moving away slowly southwards

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far north.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Rough at first in far east, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: In west, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. In east, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: In west, occasional rain. In east, rain at times later.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasionally moderate later.

Fisher

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

German Bight

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Wight

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Portland

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable mainly northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers in south, fog patches later in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in north.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:40 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northerly soon

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5 in east but 6 to gale 8 in west, occasionally severe gale 9 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, very rough or high in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, cyclonic mainly northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. In north, northeasterly 3 to 5, backing northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: In south, very rough at first in west, otherwise rough, but becoming moderate later in northeast. in north, very rough at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, thundery showers. In north, occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 5 or 6 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 5 or 6 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northeast, moderate or rough in southwest.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northwesterly 3 at first in southeast, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair then rain, then showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, decreasing 4 at times in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:43 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased, but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, decreasing 4 at times in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:40 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, decreasing 4 at times in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:43 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased, but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
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.