Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low 300 miles southwest of Iceland 1021, expected 200 miles south of Iceland 999 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Tue 5 May 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 5 May 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 6 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north or northeast 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Wight

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in east.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 4 May 2026

Wind: North 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight or moderate until later in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: North veering east, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

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

Rockall

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers then rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor, becoming moderate occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 5 May 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally slight at first in west.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: 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.