Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 15 January 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026 for the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 15 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 16 Jan 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay, FitzRoy, Sole, Shannon and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 0600

Low 450 miles west of Rockall 980 expected Shannon 989 by 0600 tomorrow. New low expected Forties 993 by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Very rough at first in northeast Viking, otherwise moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or poor, becoming good for a time

East Forties

Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming westerly 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

West Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne

Southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then mainly southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough at first in west Forties, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming smooth or slight in Cromarty and Forth. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber

South or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time in Dogger and Humber, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland

South 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic then southwest 4 to 6 in Wight and Portland, and later also elsewhere. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain then showers. Moderate or poor, occasionally good

Plymouth, Biscay, Southeast FitzRoy

Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in Biscay, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Rough or very rough. Rain then showers. Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough except in far southeast. Rain or showers. Good occasionally poor.

Northwest FitzRoy, Sole

Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in west. Very rough, becoming high except in east Sole. Squally showers. Moderate or poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in Irish Sea, moderate or rough in northeast Lundy, rough or very rough elsewhere. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Shannon, Rockall

Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 in south Shannon. Very rough or high, becoming rough later in far northwest of Rockall. Showers. Moderate or poor

Malin, Hebrides

Southwest 4 to 6 backing south or southeast 3 to 5. Rough or very rough. Showers. Moderate or good

Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes

Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in Fair Isle, becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough in southeast Fair Isle, but elsewhere rough or very rough. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in east Fair Isle

Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic mainly 3 to 5, but 6 to gale 8 until later in northwest. Very rough until later except in far north, otherwise rough. Wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor