Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Norwegian Basin 1007 expected northeast Forties 1020 by midnight tonight. High Shannon 1028 expected Southeast Iceland 1032 by same time

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sun 19 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 20 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: West 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forties

Wind: West or northwest becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, and 2 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Cromarty

Wind: West or northwest becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, and 2 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Forth

Wind: West or northwest becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Tyne

Wind: West or northwest becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Dogger

Wind: West or northwest becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Fisher

Wind: Northwesterly veering easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwesterly veering easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: North or northwest, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first and later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth, and moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: North or northwest, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first and later, veering northeast later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic mainly easterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 18 Apr 2026

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, mainly easterly 3 to 5 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic mainly easterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south, and slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state: Mainly moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable becoming east or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: South or southwest, backing east or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: South or southwest, backing east or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: West or northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: West or northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later, becoming cyclonic later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: In southeast, westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In southeast, rain or showers. In northwest, mainly fair.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally poor. In northwest, good.

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.