Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Shannon 992 expected south Norway 980 by midday tomorrow.

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly later, 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later, becoming westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high for a time later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly later, 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later, becoming westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly later, 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later, becoming westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high for a time later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, becoming west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high for a time later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, becoming west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, becoming west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 15:44 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10, becoming west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 15:44 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10, becoming west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 15:44 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10, becoming west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough, but very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, becoming west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, becoming west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Wind: Variable 3 in far northwest, otherwise northeasterly 4, but 5 to 7 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 04:45 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first north, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in south, and high at first in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:44 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 veering westerly gale force 8 soon

Wind: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 veering southwesterly storm force 10 soon

Wind: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time, veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:44 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming west 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west 5 to 7, but 7 to severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south, backing westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:44 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, mainly west 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 15:44 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 backing northerly severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time, becoming westerly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:44 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming westerly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming westerly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.