Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 17 December 2025

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:30 (UTC) on Wed 17 Dec 2025 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 19 Dec 2025 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay, FitzRoy, Sole, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle and Faeroes.

The general synopsis at 1800

Developing Atlantic low moving very rapidly northeastwards, expected northeast coast of England 992 by 1800 Thursday

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 for a time. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight

South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 except in Forth, but backing south or southeast 4 to 6 for a time. Rough or very rough in east Forties, east Dogger, Fisher and northwest German Bight, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight

South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, then perhaps severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northeast Humber and northwest Wight. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Portland, Plymouth, Northwest Biscay

Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time, then increasing severe gale 9 for a time, veering westerly 5 or 6 later. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in Plymouth and northwest Biscay. Occasional rain. Moderate or poor

Southeast Biscay

Southerly, veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later

Southeast Trafalgar

Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west. Mainly fair. Good

Northwest Trafalgar

Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7. Rough, becoming very rough or high. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

FitzRoy

Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Rough at first in southeast, otherwise very rough or high. Thundery rain or showers. Moderate or poor

Sole

Southwest veering west 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then increasing gale 8 at times. High in west, very rough or high in east. Thundery rain or showers. Moderate or poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Southwest 4 to 6 backing south 5 to 7, veering west or southwest later, perhaps gale 8 later. High in southwest Fastnet, rough or very rough in Lundy and northwest Fastnet, moderate or rough in Irish Sea. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle

Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later in Bailey and Fair Isle, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northwest Rockall and southwest Bailey. Rough in southeast Fair Isle, very rough or high in Malin, east Hebrides and northwest Fair Isle, but elsewhere high or very high. Squally thundery showers. Moderate or poor, occasionally good in Fair Isle

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later. Very rough or high, becoming high or very high for a time in west Faeroes and southern Southeast Iceland. Squally showers. Moderate or poor