Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Sunday 18 January 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:30 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Plymouth, FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Shannon and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 1800

New low expected southwest Shannon 999 by 1800 Monday

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8. Moderate or rough. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth

Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast Forties. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Tyne, Dogger

Southeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Fisher

East or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor

German Bight, Humber, Thames

South or southeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Dover, Wight, Portland

Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Plymouth

Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay

Cyclonic 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar

North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest. Showers. Mainly good

FitzRoy

Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Sole

Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy

South or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Fastnet

Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Irish Sea

South or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon

Northwest backing south 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Rough becoming very rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall

Cyclonic becoming south later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Rough becoming very rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in Bailey, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first except Bailey. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes

Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor