Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Friday 19 December 2025

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 17:25 (UTC) on Fri 19 Dec 2025 for the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 19 Dec 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 20 Dec 2025 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Plymouth, Biscay, FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides and Bailey.

The general synopsis at midday

Atlantic low 964 moving steady eastwards, expected 300 miles west of Bailey 980 by midday tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 or 4. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough. Squally showers at first. Moderate or good

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southwest, backing south later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5. Rough or very rough at first in northeast Forties, but elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Fisher, German Bight, Humber

Southwest 5 or 6, backing south or southeast 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in German Bight and Humber. Fair, showers later in Humber. Good

Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland

Southwest, backing south, then southeast later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slow moving in Thames and Dover. Showers, squally later in Portland. Good, occasionally moderate later in Portland

Plymouth, Biscay

Southwesterly 4 or 5, but variable 3 or less at first in south Biscay, backing southerly 6 to gale 8 for a time. Rough or very rough. Showers, squally later. Good, occasionally moderate

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in southeast, otherwise northerly backing northwesterly, 4 to 6. Mainly very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

FitzRoy, Sole

Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, but variable 3 or 4 at first in southeast FitzRoy, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Very rough, becoming very rough or high. Rain or showers, perhaps squally. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Southwest 5 or 6, backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale force 9 in Fastnet, veering southwest 4 or 5 later in Fastnet. In Irish Sea, moderate or rough, elsewhere rough or very rough. Rain or showers, perhaps squally. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Shannon, Rockall

Southwest becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later in Shannon and west Rockall. Very rough or high. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or poor

Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

Southwest 5 or 6, backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8. Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough except in Bailey. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Southwest, backing southeast later, 6 to gale 8 decreasing 3 to 5. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in southeast. Showers. Good

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in Faeroes. Showers. Good, occasionally poor