Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

New high expected Faeroes 1032 by 1800 Thursday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 24 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

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

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 in north and 6 in south.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then perhaps gale 8 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: In east, northwesterly 4 or 5. In west, variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: In west, variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. In east, northerly backing northwesterly, 3 or 4.
Sea state: In west, slight. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 later in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4 becoming easterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6 at first in west, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In east, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in south. In west, southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough. in west, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: In east, mainly fair. In west, occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in west.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6 backing east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: In south, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5. In north, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.

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.