Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 16 September 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 16:25 (UTC+1) on Wed 16 Sep 2026 for the period 18:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 16 Sep 2026 to 18:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 17 Sep 2026.

There are warnings of gales in Trafalgar, FitzRoy, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes, and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at midday

Low 200 miles southwest of Iceland 974 expected Faeroes 977 by midday tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, East Forties

Northwesterly backing southerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, increasing 7 for a time later in northern North Utsire. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

West Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne

Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later except in west Cromarty and Tyne. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover

West or northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first except in Fisher. Slight or moderate in Humber, Thames and Dover, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Showers then rain. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

West or northwest, backing southwest for a time, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in west Plymouth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time

Biscay

North or northwest, backing west for a time, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Showers, then rain in north. Good, occasionally poor in north

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north. Slight or moderate in far southeast, elsewhere moderate becoming rough, occasionally very rough later in north. Fair. Good.

FitzRoy

Northerly or northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in far southeast. Moderate or rough. Showers then rain. Good, occasionally moderate

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon

West or southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 except in Sole. Slight or moderate in east Lundy and Irish Sea, elsewhere moderate or rough, but becoming very rough in west Sole and Shannon, then high later in north Shannon. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides

Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in Rockall. Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Bailey

Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 for a time in north. Rough, becoming very rough or high. Squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Southerly or southwesterly mainly 5 to 7, but 4 at first in east and occasionally gale 8 later in west. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later in west. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then increasing 6 to gale 8 again later in south Faeroes. Moderate at first in east Faeroes, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming high later in south Faeroes. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor