Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Shannon 1015 expected southwest Ireland 1012 by midday tomorrow.

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Fri 1 May 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 1 May 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 2 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain until later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: South 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain until later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then northwesterly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: In southeast, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then northwesterly 2 to 4 later. In northwest, southerly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: In southeast, slight or moderate, becoming slight. in northwest, slight or moderate.
Weather: In southeast, rain. In northwest, rain or showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally poor. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic then west or southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic then west or southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic then west or southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic then west or southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4 later, then variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, but slight occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 30 Apr 2026

Wind: Variable, becoming mainly southerly or southwesterly in west, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic then mainly northwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic then mainly northwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight far east.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, but very poor at times.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: In south, cyclonic, becoming northerly, 3 to 5. In north, cyclonic becoming northeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first, otherwise cyclonic becoming northeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east, and rough at times in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
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.