Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Printable version

The general synopsis at midnight

High Shannon 1028 expected Norwegian Basin 1032 by midnight tonight. New low expected southeast Trafalgar 1007

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 3 or less, but southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 at first in west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable, becoming east or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forth

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

Tyne

Wind: Variable, becoming east or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Variable, becoming east or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

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

German Bight

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

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable, mainly north, 2 or 3, becoming northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

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: Variable 2 or 3 at first in northwest, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 or 3 at first in west, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first, otherwise showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

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

Rockall

Wind: Variable, becoming southwesterly later in west, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Hebrides

Wind: Northwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally 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.