Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High Shannon 1029 expected Forties 1032 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Mainly fair, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: In east, variable 2 to 4. In west, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: In east, fair. In west, occasional rain and fog patches.
Visibility: In east, good. In west, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later in south.
Sea state: Slight, becoming slight or moderate, but occasionally smooth later in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later in south.
Sea state: Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, veering northeast 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, veering northeast 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 25 Apr 2026

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, northerly 3 to 5, veering northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough. in north, slight or moderate becoming moderate.
Weather: In south, thundery showers. In north, mainly fair.
Visibility: In south, good occasionally poor. In north, good occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, veering northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: North 3 or 4, veering northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: North 3 or 4, veering northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: North 3 or 4, veering northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

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

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

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

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later except in far southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but southeasterly 3 to 5 at first in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, and very poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, and very poor at first.

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.