Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Monday 23 February 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:30 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 25 Feb 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Shannon, Rockall, Hebrides, Bailey, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 1800

Atlantic low 979 moving rather quickly northeastwards expected 150 miles north of Southeast Iceland 971 by 1800 Tuesday

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Rain, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

South or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain, fog patches in Dogger. Moderate or good occasionally poor and very poor in Dogger

Fisher, German Bight

Westerly backing southerly 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north Fisher. Slight or moderate. Rain, fog banks developing. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate to very poor

Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, North Biscay

West at first in Humber, otherwise south or southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in Plymouth. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in Plymouth, north Biscay and at first in Portland. Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches until later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later

South Biscay, Southeast Trafalgar

Variable 2 to 4, but south 3 to 5 at times. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south Biscay, and slight later in southeast Trafalgar. Fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first

Northwest Trafalgar, Southeast FitzRoy

Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Northwest FitzRoy, Sole

Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Southwest backing south, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west Fastnet and slight at times in north Irish Sea. Rain at times, fog patches at first in Irish Sea. Moderate or good, poor at times, but occasionally very poor at first in Irish Sea

Shannon, Rockall, Malin

Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in Shannon and Rockall. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Hebrides, Bailey

Cyclonic becoming southerly, 6 to gale 8, then cyclonic 5 or 6 later. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeast 5 to 7. Rough, occasionally very rough in north, and moderate in southeast. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Southeasterly 6 or 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later in north Faeroes and in southern Southeast Iceland. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor