Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New low expected just west of FitzRoy 991 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

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

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

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

Forties

Wind: In northeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 to 5. In southwest, easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In northeast, slight or moderate. in southwest, slight or moderate.
Weather: In northeast, fog patches. In southwest, showers at first.
Visibility: In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, good, occasionally moderate at first.

Cromarty

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Forth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Tyne

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Dogger

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Fisher

Wind: Northeast backing north or northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

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

Humber

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

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

Wind: East 5 or 6, increasing 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East 5 or 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fog patches at first in southwest, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in southwest.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:57 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 19 Apr 2026

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:57 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise easterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight at first in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Thundery rain, fog patches at first in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor at first in southeast.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: East 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough later in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:57 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: In south, easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, northeasterly 4 or 5, veering easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough. in north, moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, showers. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good occasionally moderate. In north, good occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, veering easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, veering easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, veering easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Easterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west, backing northeasterly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but rough at first in far west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.