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 16:25 (UTC+1) on Tue 18 Aug 2026 for the period 18:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 18 Aug 2026 to 18:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 19 Aug 2026.

There are warnings of gales in Hebrides, Bailey, and Faeroes.

The general synopsis at midday

Low Bailey 999 expected Malin with little change by midday tomorrow. New low expected Fisher 998 by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty

Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest Viking and 2 elsewhere. Slight, occasionally moderate except in South Utsire. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Forth, Tyne, Dogger

West 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, thundery later. Moderate or good

Fisher, German Bight

Cyclonic, becoming northwest later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Humber, Thames

West or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Rain then thundery showers. Moderate or good

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 for a time in south Plymouth. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fog patches in south Plymouth. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor in south Plymouth

Biscay

Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

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

Cyclonic 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Moderate or good

North FitzRoy

Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

West or northwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in Sole and Fastnet. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor

Irish Sea

West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight occasionally moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon

West or northwest 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall

West 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Rough, occasionally very rough in north and west. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Malin, South Hebrides

Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east Malin. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

North Hebrides, Bailey

Cyclonic becoming northeasterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, but occasionally 4 at first. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes

Easterly or southeasterly backing northeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in Fair Isle and gale 8 in Faeroes. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east Fair Isle. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good