Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midday

Low 250 miles southwest of Iceland 1020, expected 250 miles south of Iceland 1001 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Tue 5 May 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 5 May 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 6 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly west or northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 4 May 2026

Wind: North 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight or moderate until later in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: North backing west 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate, but poor late.

Malin

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 5 May 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 5 May 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very 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.