Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low just west of Trafalgar 996 expected south FitzRoy 1003 by 0600 tomorrow. New low expected Faeroes 1018 by same time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Sat 09 May 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 09 May 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 10 May 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Northeast backing northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Cromarty

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

Forth

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

Tyne

Wind: North or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dogger

Wind: North or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

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

Humber

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

Thames

Wind: Northeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East 4 or 5, backing northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: East 4 or 5, backing northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: East 4 or 5, backing northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: East 4 or 5, backing northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Sat 09 May 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northeasterly, becoming cyclonic in southeast, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in far northwest.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Sat 09 May 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Sat 09 May 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Sat 09 May 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwest, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far northeast.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far northeast.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
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.