Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low near southampton 1011 expected East Anglia 1007 by 1800 Sunday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 2 May 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 3 May 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 4 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: North backing west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Showers later in north.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northeast backing northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Cromarty

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

Forth

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in northeast, slight or moderate in southwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

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

Trafalgar

Wind: Northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: In west, northwesterly 4 to 6. In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers, thundery in east.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, backing northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise southwesterly veering northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, veering northerly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.