Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low 500 miles west of Bailey 970 expected west of Iceland 972 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in northeast and slight in southwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: South 2 to 4, veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Forth

Wind: South 2 to 4, veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Tyne

Wind: South 2 to 4, veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, and 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 3 or 4, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming west 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming west 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 veering northeasterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5 in east but 6 to gale 8 in west, occasionally severe gale 9 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, very rough or high in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7 veering west 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly later

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing, veering southwesterly imminent

Wind: South veering southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming high later in southwest.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:40 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, but 4 to 6 in east, veering southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:40 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
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.