Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low just west of FitzRoy 1003 expected south FitzRoy 1005 by 1800 tomorrow, high German Bight 1028 dissipating by same time

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but becoming southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in the utsires.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but becoming southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in the utsires.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5 at first, otherwise variable 2 to 4, but becoming southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in the utsires.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but becoming southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in the utsires.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

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

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair, but showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In south, cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east. In north, cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time later in west.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough. in north, occasionally moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: In south, thundery showers. In north, rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In south, cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time later in west. In north, southerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, but 6 or 7 later in west.
Sea state: In south, occasionally moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, rain or thundery showers. In north, rain or showers, thundery, fog patches later.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Sole

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Lundy

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain at times, and fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Mainly very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering southerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Mainly very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east and decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

Southeasterly storm force 10 now decreased severe gale force 9 and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, and veering southerly soon

Wind: Southeasterly veering southerly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High, occasionally very high at first, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.

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.