Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low 500 miles west of Sole 998 expected 150 miles west of Shannon 993 by 1800 Thursday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 16 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 17 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, then showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, then showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, then showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In northeast, southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6. In southwest, southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in southwest.
Weather: In northeast, rain and fog patches, then showers later. In southwest, occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later. In southwest, good, occasionally poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough until later in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dogger

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then veering south or southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough at first in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6 veering south or southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later, occasionally variable 2 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later, occasionally variable 2 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later. In southeast, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In northwest, rough or very rough. in southeast, moderate or rough.
Weather: In northwest, showers. In southeast, fog patches.
Visibility: In northwest, good, occasionally moderate. In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in northwest.

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west.
Sea state: High at first in northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly 4 to 6, then decreasing 3 for a time in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 22:24 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: High becoming very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southwest becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Thundery showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in northeast, then veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6 veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later in west.
Weather: Rain, 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.