Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Portugal 1006 expected Biscay 1011 by 0600 tomorrow. High Forties 1033 expected Germany 1034

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 30 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwesterly, but westerly or northwesterly at first in east, 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor and very poor later.

Forties

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, but variable 3 or 4 at first.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: Northwesterly backing westerly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Good becoming moderate, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: In northeast, variable 3 or 4 . In southwest, easterly, veering southeasterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: In northeast, slight or moderate. in southwest, smooth or slight.
Weather: In northeast, fog patches later. In southwest, fair.
Visibility: In northeast, good becoming moderate, occasionally very poor later. In southwest, good.

Humber

Wind: Easterly, veering southeasterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northeast veering east, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northeast veering east, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northeast veering east, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:44 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Northeast veering east, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:44 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continue

Wind: Northeast veering east, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026

Wind: West 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 07:01 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected imminent

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northeast veering east, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 07:01 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected imminent

Wind: Northeast veering east, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far south.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southeasterly, becoming variable later, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: South, veering west later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, backing south 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
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.