Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Atlantic low 1011 moving rather quickly northeast, expected Malin 982 by 1800 Saturday. High Biscay 1026 expected Trafalgar 1022 by same time

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 now veered westerly, backing southeasterly later

Wind: West, backing southeast later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly 6, backing southeasterly gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly 6, backing southeasterly gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7 backing southwest 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7 backing southwest 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7 backing southwest 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7 backing southwest 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7 backing southwest 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7 backing south or southwest 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7 backing south or southwest 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7 backing south or southwest 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 4 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Variable 3 in far northwest, otherwise northeasterly 4, but 5 to 7 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 05:40 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6 increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Variable 4, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 10:30 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: West becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

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

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, backing westerly imminent

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: 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.