Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High Forties 1034 slow moving with little change

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: East or northeast 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: East or northeast 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

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

Thames

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate at first.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026

Wind: Northerly at first in west, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough later.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind: In northwest, southerly 3 to 5. In southeast, easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4.
Sea state: In northwest, moderate or rough becoming rough. in southeast, moderate, becoming rough later.
Weather: In northwest, mainly fair. In southeast, fair.
Visibility: In northwest, good. In southeast, good occasionally poor at first.

Malin

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor at first.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times in far north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later in west.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in west.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:56 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.