Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

New high expected Fair Isle 1034 by 1800 Wednesday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: In northeast, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. In southwest, northeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: In northeast, slight or moderate. in southwest, slight.
Weather: In northeast, mainly fair. In southwest, occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: North or northwest 3 or 4 increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

German Bight

Wind: Variable mainly northeast 2 to 4, backing northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

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

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except in northwest.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far northwest.
Weather: In southeast, occasional rain at first. In northwest, rain at times.
Visibility: In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering southeasterly soon

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: East 6 to gale 8 veering southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: High at first in far west, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: East 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northeast, rough or very rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: East 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:54 (UTC) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

Easterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south, veering southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High at first in far southwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in far southwest.
Weather: Showers in south.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: In south, easterly 4 to 6. In north, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

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

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: 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.