Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 18 December 2025

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 17:25 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025 for the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 18 Dec 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 19 Dec 2025 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover, FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey and Fair Isle.

The general synopsis at midday

Low 200 miles west of Bailey 961 moving steadily east and losing its identity

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties

Southeasterly veering southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Moderate at first in southwest Forties, otherwise rough or very rough. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

Cromarty, Forth, Tyne

South or southeast 5 to 7, veering southwest 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northeast Cromarty. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor

Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber

South or southeast veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first but severe gale 9 at first in Humber, decreasing 5 at times later in German Bight and Humber. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in Fisher and occasionally very rough at first elsewhere. Occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor

Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland

South or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in Portland and at first in west Wight, becoming slight or moderate in Thames, Dover and east Wight. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor

Plymouth

West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay

Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5. Very rough, occasionally high until later. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

In southeast, variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later. In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6 veering northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7. In southeast, moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west. in northwest, rough, becoming very rough or high. In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, rain or showers. In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later in northwest. Very rough or high. Showers. Moderate or poor

Sole

West, backing southwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time. High, becoming very rough later. Squally showers. Moderate or poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. In Irish Sea, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south, but elsewhere rough or very rough, occasionally high until later in Fastnet. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon, Rockall

West or southwest 6 to gale 8. High, occasionally very high at first and very rough later. Squally thundery showers. Poor

Malin, Hebrides, South Bailey

Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly for a time later, 6 to gale 8. Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east Malin. Squally showers. Moderate or poor

North Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes

Southerly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in Fair Isle and at first elsewhere, decreasing 3 to 5 later in Faeroes and for a time in north Bailey. Rough or very rough in southeast Fair Isle, otherwise very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. High becoming very rough, then mainly rough later. Showers. Poor, becoming moderate or good