Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New low expected east Faeroes 985 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026

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

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 7 backing southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest backing south or southwest, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate for a time.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest backing west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 1 Apr 2026

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, northerly 4 to 6 in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4. In north, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough. in north, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, fair. In north, occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, elsewhere moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 now veered southerly

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 1 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic, then west later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic, then west later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Thu 2 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: 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.