Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 23 July 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:15 (UTC+1) on Wed 22 Jul 2026 for the period 00:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 23 Jul 2026 to 00:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 24 Jul 2026.

There are warnings of gales in

The general synopsis at 1800

Developing low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 400 miles northeast of Iceland 991 by 1800 Thursday. High mid-Atlantic 1035 slow moving, declining 1034 by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking

North backing west 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

North Utsire

Northwesterly 5 or 6, backing westerly 3 or 4. Slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally poor later

South Utsire

Northwesterly 5 to 7. Rough becoming slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Forties

Northwest backing west later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate, occasionally slight. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good

Cromarty

Northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate

Forth, Tyne

Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate. Showers. Good

Dogger

Northwest 4 or 5, backing west 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Fisher

Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast. Moderate or rough. Mainly fair. Good

German Bight

Northwest 4 or 5. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. Mainly fair. Good

Humber, Thames

Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in Thames. Showers. Good

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Variable 2 to 4, but northerly 4 or 5 in far west Plymouth. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good

Biscay

North or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Trafalgar

Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far southeast. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Showers in north. Good

FitzRoy

Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 in far southeast. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Showers in south. Good, occasionally poor in far southeast

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

North or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Lundy. Fair. Good

Irish Sea

North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate

Shannon

North 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Rockall, Malin

Northwest backing west 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north Rockall. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north Rockall. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good

Hebrides, Bailey

West or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes

West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in Fair Isle. Slight or moderate at first in Fair Isle, otherwise moderate or rough. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Southwesterly 5 to 7. Rough. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor