Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 6 August 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 04:05 (UTC+1) on Thu 6 Aug 2026 for the period 06:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 6 Aug 2026 to 06:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 7 Aug 2026.

There are warnings of gales in South Utsire, Forties, and Fisher.

The general synopsis at midnight

High 450 miles west of Shannon 1027 expected Plymouth 1026 by midnight tonight

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking

Northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first

North Utsire, South Utsire

Southwesterly 3 to 5 veering northwesterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 in eastern South Utsire, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first

Forties

Northwest 6 to gale 8 decreasing 3 to 5, then backing southwest later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first

Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Northwest 5 or 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough until later in east Cromarty and Dogger, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Fisher, German Bight

Southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast Fisher, decreasing 4 later in southwest German Bight. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northeast Fisher. Showers. Moderate or good

Humber, Thames

West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4. Rough at first in northeast Humber, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good

Biscay, East FitzRoy

Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Northerly 4 to 6 in east but variable 2 to 4 in west. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

West FitzRoy, West Sole

Variable 3 or less at first in west Sole, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6. Moderate. Fair at first in west Sole, otherwise thundery rain. Good, occasionally poor

East Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon

Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in Irish Sea, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight except in Shannon. Showers. Good

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

Northwest 3 to 5 at first in Malin and Hebrides, otherwise southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate until later in Malin and Hebrides, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6. Rough at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later

Faeroes

Variable 3 or 4 becoming southwest 4 or 5. Slight or moderate. Showers then rain. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Rain, fog patches in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north