Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Tuesday 18 August 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 04:05 (UTC+1) on Tue 18 Aug 2026 for the period 06:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 18 Aug 2026 to 06:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 19 Aug 2026.

There are warnings of gales in Hebrides, and Bailey.

The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected southeast Bailey 998 by midnight tonight

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Northwest Viking

Northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Showers. Good

Southeast Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Northwesterly 3 to 5 at first in South Utsire, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in South Utsire. Showers. Good, occasionally poor later in South Utsire

Forties, Cromarty

Cyclonic 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west 4 to 6. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Fisher

Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in northeast. Fair then rain. Good, occasionally moderate

German Bight

Variable 3 or less becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then west 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor

Humber, Thames

West or southwest, veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay

Variable 2 to 4. Slight, becoming moderate in far northwest. Occasional rain in north. Good, occasionally poor in north

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6. In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

South FitzRoy

Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough at first in far south, otherwise slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Moderate or good

North FitzRoy, Sole

Westerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later in north FitzRoy, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Drizzle, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon

West 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 for a time in Irish Sea. Mainly slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in southwest Fastnet and Shannon, and becoming very rough later in northwest Shannon. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin, South Hebrides

Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough in Rockall, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor

North Hebrides, Bailey

Cyclonic, becoming northeasterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 except in north Bailey, then increasing gale 8 at times later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Easterly, backing northeasterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southwest Faeroes, perhaps gale 8 for a time later in southwest Faeroes. Mainly moderate or rough, but in southeast Fair Isle, slight becoming moderate. Rain in south. Good, occasionally poor in south