Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 25 February 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC) on Wed 25 Feb 2026 for the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 25 Feb 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Sole, Irish Sea, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey and Fair Isle.

The general synopsis at 0600

New low moving steadily northeast, expected Norwegian Basin 990 by 0600 tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

West Viking

Southwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

East Viking, North Utsire

Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain, fog patches. Moderate to very poor

South Utsire

Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Rain, fog banks. Moderate to very poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne

South or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in Forties, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first

Dogger, Fisher, German Bight

Southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fog banks. Moderate to very poor

Humber, Thames

South or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Northwest Biscay

Southerly veering southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight in Dover, slight or moderate in Wight, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Showers. Moderate or good

Southeast Biscay

Variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Fog patches. Good, occasionally very poor

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Cyclonic, becoming northerly in west, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest. Rain or thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7 later except in southeast. Rough or very rough. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Sole

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Rough or very rough. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Rough or very rough in Fastnet, moderate or rough elsewhere, occasionally slight in Irish Sea. Occasional rain, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first

Shannon, Rockall, Malin

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough in southeast Malin, otherwise rough or very rough. Occasional rain, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later

Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle

Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in Bailey, becoming southwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Rough or very rough in Hebrides and Bailey, otherwise in Fair Isle, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. Rain or showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming southeasterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Wintry showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor