Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Sunday 18 October 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 10:30 (UTC+1) on Sun 18 Oct 2026 for the period 12:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 18 Oct 2026 to 12:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 19 Oct 2026.

There are warnings of gales in Trafalgar, FitzRoy, Bailey, Faeroes, and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 0600

High southwest Scotland 1038 dissipating

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north Viking. Moderate, occasionally rough in north. Fair. Good

South Utsire, North Forties

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5. Moderate occasionally slight. Fair. Good

South Forties

Northeasterly veering southeasterly, 3 to 5. Moderate. Fair. Good

Cromarty

South 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Forth

Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers later. Good

Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber

East or northeast, veering southeast later, 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally slight in Fisher and rough elsewhere. Rain or showers except in Fisher. Good, occasionally poor

Thames, Dover

Northeast 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Dover. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Wight, Portland

Northeast, veering southeast later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in Wight. Thundery showers. Good, occasional poor

Plymouth, Biscay

Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in Biscay. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in southwest Biscay. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far north. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north. Showers. Good.

South FitzRoy

Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest. Thundery showers later. Good, occasionally moderate

North FitzRoy

Northeasterly 3 to 5. Moderate occasionally rough. Thundery showers later. Good, occasionally moderate

West Sole

Variable 2 to 4. Moderate, becoming rough later. Showers. Good

East Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in Irish Sea. Smooth or slight in Irish Sea and until later in Lundy, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers later. Good, occasionally poor later

Southeast Shannon

Variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good

Northwest Shannon, Rockall

Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest Rockall. Moderate or rough in northwest Shannon, rough or very rough in Rockall. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Malin

South or southeast 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough later in northwest. Fair. Good

Hebrides

South 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far northwest. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Bailey

Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northwest. Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in south. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north and west, perhaps gale 8 later in northwest. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in north and west. Showers. Good

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in Southeast Iceland, decreasing 5 later in northwestern Southeast Iceland. Rough or very rough at first in Faeroes, otherwise very rough or high. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or poor