Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low 200 miles west of Sole 1006 expected Cromarty 977 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Westerly backing southerly, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Westerly backing southerly, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: West backing southeast, 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: West backing southeast, 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind: West backing southeast, 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West 6 backing southeast 7, veering west or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West 6 backing southeast 7, veering west or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West 6 backing southeast 7, veering west or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally high later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West 6 backing southeast 7, veering west or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: West 6 backing southeast 7, veering west or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Wind: Variable 3 in far northwest, otherwise northeasterly 4, but 5 to 7 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 04:45 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. In north, southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 later.
Sea state: In south, rough. in north, rough or very rough, occasionally high in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwest veering west, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later, veering west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 10:30 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 in far southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2026

Severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, backing westerly imminent

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:55 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: 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.