Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High Tyne 1035 expected Forth 1029 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 24 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: In east, northwesterly 4 or 5. In west, variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, slight.
Weather: In east, fair. In west, fog patches developing.
Visibility: In east, good. In west, good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: In west, variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. In east, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In west, slight. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather: In west, fog patches developing. In east, fair.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally very poor. In east, good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 2.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Elsewhere slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic later except in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6 at first in west, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In east, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic later. In west, southerly or southeasterly, veering southerly or southwesterly later, 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north.
Weather: In east, showers later, perhaps thundery. In west, occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 east.
Sea state: Mainly moderate or rough, but very rough at first in far west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6 backing east or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5 later in north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.