Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

High Faeroes 1027 expected Norway with little change by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: In west, variable 3 or less becoming southeasterly 3 or 4. In east, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 in east.
Sea state: In west, moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later. in east, moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: In west, rain later. In east, mainly fair.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally moderate later. In east, good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, but northerly 4 or 5 at first in east, becoming southerly 2 or 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Variable becoming south or southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly, then becoming variable 3 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly, then becoming variable 3 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast, veering southeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderat.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: In east, easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In west, northerly, veering northeasterly later, 3 or 4.
Sea state: In east, smooth or slight. in west, slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: In east, fair. In west, fair.
Visibility: In east, good. In west, good.

Biscay

Wind: In west, northerly, veering northeasterly later, 3 or 4 . In east, variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: In west, slight, occasionally moderate. in east, slight.
Weather: In west, fair, showers later. In east, fair.
Visibility: In west, good. In east, good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 25 Apr 2026

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 until later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 or 4, but southeasterly 5 or 6 at first in north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: In south, southwest becoming variable later, 2 to 4. In north, southwesterly veering westerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: In south, slight or moderate. in north, slight or moderate.
Weather: In south, showers. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally moderate. In north, good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Southwesterly, but southeasterly at first in north, veering westerly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, but moderate or rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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.