Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High Sole 1024 expected Shannon 1030 by midday Monday. High German Bight 1028 dissipating

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: In west, southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In west, moderate. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather: In west, occasional rain. In east, occasional rain later.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasionally moderate later.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but northwesterly 3 to 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but northwesterly 3 to 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Forties

Wind: Variable, mainly south, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

German Bight

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: In east, easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 for a time. In west, northerly or northeasterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: In east, smooth or slight. in west, slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: In east, fair. In west, mainly fair.
Visibility: In east, good. In west, good.

Biscay

Wind: In west, northerly or northeasterly, 2 to 4 . In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In west, slight, occasionally moderate at first. in east, slight.
Weather: In west, mainly fair. In east, mainly fair.
Visibility: In west, good. In east, good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 25 Apr 2026

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. In northwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: In southeast, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. in northwest, slight or moderate.
Weather: In southeast, showers. In northwest, showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
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.