Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 5 February 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026 for the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Feb 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Feb 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, South Utsire, Forties, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Biscay, Trafalgar, FitzRoy, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 0600

Low 100 miles west of Sole 964 expected Sole 973 by 0600 tomorrow. Low Lundy 969 losing its identity

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Southwest Viking

Southeasterly 7 or gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Very rough, becoming moderate or rough. Occasional sleet. Good, occasionally poor

Northeast Viking, North Utsire

Easterly 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in North Utsire. Fair. Good

North South Utsire

Easterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southwest. Occasional snow. Good, occasionally very poor

South South Utsire, Forties

Easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in South Utsire. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain or snow. Good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing

Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

East 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first except in Cromarty and Forth. Rough or very rough. Rain or sleet. Good, occasionally poor

Fisher, German Bight

Easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north Fisher. Very rough in north and west Fisher, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Occasional rain, sleet or snow. Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in Fisher

Humber, Thames

East or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in Humber. Very rough at first in far northwest Humber, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in Thames. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

South or southeast, veering southwest later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in Dover and southeast Wight, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west Plymouth. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay, FitzRoy

Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, perhaps severe gale 9 later in FitzRoy. Very rough or high in FitzRoy, rough or very rough in Biscay, occasionally high later in far west Biscay. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Very rough or high. Rain or thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Cyclonic 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7 later. Very rough, occasionally high in far south. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon

Easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northwest Irish Sea, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 except in Irish Sea. Rough or very rough in Fastnet and Shannon, but elsewhere, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northwest Irish Sea. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good

Fair Isle, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Northeasterly at first in western Southeast Iceland, otherwise easterly or southeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in Fair Isle and Faeroes. Rain or wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor