Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Saturday 17 January 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026 for the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026 .

The general synopsis at 0600

Low Fastnet 1004 losing its identity

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Northeast Forties

Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in northern North Utsire, increasing 7 at times later elsewhere, perhaps gale 8 later in South Utsire. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southwest Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in Dogger. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Forth, Tyne and Dogger. Rain at times, fog patches in Dogger. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in Dogger and poor elsewhere

Fisher

Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

German Bight, Humber, Thames

Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times except in east German Bight. Slight or moderate in north German Bight, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

South backing east or northeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 except in Dover, then becoming variable later. Smooth or slight in Dover and southeast Wight, moderate or rough in west Portland and Plymouth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay

Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Very rough at first in west and south, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

North or northwest 4 to 6. Rough or very rough. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast FitzRoy

Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south. Very rough becoming rough, then occasionally moderate later. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first

Northwest FitzRoy, Sole

Cyclonic mainly northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later in west. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Showers then fair, then rain later in west. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Cyclonic 2 to 4 in Fastnet, but elsewhere southeast 3 to 5. Rough at first in south Lundy and south Fastnet, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate

Shannon, Rockall

North 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then south 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor later

Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

East or southeast 2 to 4 veering south or southeast 4 to 6. Moderate, becoming rough later in west Bailey. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Fair Isle, Faeroes

East or southeast 3 to 5 veering south or southeast 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally slight. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far west. Moderate, becoming rough later in west. Showers. Good, occasionally poor