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 17:25 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026 for the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 23 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 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 midday

Low mid-Atlantic 981 expected northwest of Bailey 971 by midday tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in Viking and North Utsire. Occasional rain, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

West backing south 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later in Forties, Cromarty and Forth. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fog patches in Dogger. Moderate or good occasionally poor and very poor in Dogger

Fisher, German Bight

West backing south 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain and fog patches, fog banks later. Moderate or good occasionally very poor, becoming moderate to very poor later

Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight

West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Portland, Plymouth, Biscay

Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 in south Biscay, decreasing 3 or 4 later in Portland. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate in Portland, otherwise rough, becoming moderate in east. Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, except in south. Moderate or rough. Fair. Moderate or good.

Southeast FitzRoy

Southerly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Northwest FitzRoy, Sole

Southerly 5 to 7. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Southwest backing south 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in Lundy, rough or very rough in Fastnet and slight or moderate in Irish Sea. Occasional rain, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first

Shannon, Rockall, Malin

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

Hebrides, Bailey

Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

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

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later in Faeroes. Showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor