Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Friday 27 February 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026 for the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Feb 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, Portland, Plymouth, FitzRoy, Sole, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at midnight

New lows expected Portland 1009 and Humber 1009 by midnight tonight

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Southwesterly veering westerly, 6 to gale 8 at first in northwest Viking, otherwise 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest Viking. Showers. Good

South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth

Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4. Moderate or rough at first in South Utsire, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Tyne, Dogger, Fisher

Southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then north or northeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

German Bight, Humber

Southwest becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain and fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Thames, Dover, Wight

Southwest becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in Wight, perhaps gale 8 later in Wight. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in Wight and later also Dover. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Portland, Plymouth

Southwest becoming cyclonic, then northwest later, 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in Plymouth. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay

Southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in far southeast. Occasional rain in north. Good, occasionally poor in north.

FitzRoy, Sole

Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Cyclonic becoming north or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in Lundy and Fastnet. Slight or moderate in Irish Sea, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in Fastnet. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon, Rockall

North or northwest backing south or southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north Rockall. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Malin

Northwest backing south or southwest later, 3 to 5. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Hebrides, Bailey

West or northwest 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 5 to 7 later. High or very high, becoming rough or very rough later. Wintry showers. Moderate, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes

West or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later. High or very high at first in west Fair Isle and Faeroes, otherwise rough or very rough. Wintry showers. Moderate or poor, occasionally good in Fair Isle

Southeast Iceland

Westerly gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 6 to gale 8, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later. Occasional snow. Moderate to very poor. Occasional light icing near iceland