Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New low expected Lincolnshire 1007 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sat 2 May 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 2 May 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 3 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly backing northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly backing northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 2 to 4 increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming north 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: East veering southwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather: Thundery rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: East veering southwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather: Thundery rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable, mainly south, 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable, mainly south, 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable, mainly south, 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far southwest.
Weather: Thundery rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable, becoming westerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 1 May 2026

Wind: Variable, mainly west, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: In east, variable, becoming westerly, 2 to 4. In west, northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, moderate.
Weather: In east, thundery showers. In west, rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: In west, northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. In east, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: In west, moderate, occasionally rough later. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southwest, but smooth or slight in northeast.
Weather: Rain, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in east, otherwise moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Northeasterly backing westerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Westerly in north, elsewhere northeasterly backing westerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northeasterly backing westerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 4 or less becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7 veering northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
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.