Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Atlantic low 984 expected Bailey 994 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 15 Apr 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 16 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 14 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Tue 14 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first and very rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 14 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first and very rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 14 Apr 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast, veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southeast, veering southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast and rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast, veering southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeast, veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southeast veering southwest, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 14 Apr 2026

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southwesterly backing southerly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, rough or very rough. in northwest, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In southeast, rain. In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 14 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, backing south 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Thundery showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 6 or 7 decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 6 or 7 decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Tue 14 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southeast, becoming southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southeast, becoming southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southeast, becoming southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain or 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: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

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

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 now veered southeasterly and decreased gale force 8

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
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.