Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High Irish Sea 1029 expected north Iceland 1038 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sun 19 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: In southwest, northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6. In northeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 for a time, then northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate, occasionally slight. in northeast, moderate.
Weather: In southwest, rain. In northeast, rain, fog patches.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate or good. In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 for a time, then northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming northeast 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming northeast 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: North or northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

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

German Bight

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

Humber

Wind: North or northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: North or northwest 2 to 4, veering northeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Slight occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming east or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming east or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 18 Apr 2026

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, mainly easterly 3 to 5 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southwest, variable 4 or less. In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate, occasionally slight near shore and rough later in far northwest. in northeast, moderate.
Weather: In southwest, rain, fog patches. In northeast, fair.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In northeast, good.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northeast 2 to 4, veering east 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in far southwest and smooth in east.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable, mainly northeast, 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southeast backing east or northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Southeast backing east or northeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, but smooth or slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 veering east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 veering east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 3 or less in west, elsewhere northerly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in far north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

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.