Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low north Trafalgar 1003 expected southwest Trafalgar 1007 by 1800 Wednesday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 3 at first in east.
Sea state: Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southeast 3 or 4 increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Southeast 3 or 4 increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

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

Thames

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: East 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Biscay

Wind: Variable mainly northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:40 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 veering northerly soon

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5 in east but 6 to gale 8 in west, occasionally severe gale 9 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, very rough or high in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, cyclonic mainly northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times. In north, northeasterly, becoming cyclonic in west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: In south, very rough at first in west, otherwise rough, but occasionally moderate later in north. in north, very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, thundery showers. In north, rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: Northeasterly, becoming cyclonic in west, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5 at first in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:43 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased, but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:40 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 for a time, then occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:43 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

Gale now ceased, but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
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.