Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 16 September 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 04:05 (UTC+1) on Wed 16 Sep 2026 for the period 06:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 16 Sep 2026 to 06:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 17 Sep 2026.

There are warnings of gales in North Utsire, Trafalgar, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Faeroes, and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at midnight

Low North Utsire 994 losing its identity by midnight tonight. New low 976 expected 100 miles southwest of Southeast Iceland by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in North Utsire, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Rough becoming moderate. Showers, rain later. Good occasionally moderate

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Northwest backing south or southwest later, 4 to 6. Rough at first in northeast Forties, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames

Northwest backing southwest later, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in Fisher, slight or moderate elsewhere. Rain or thundery showers. Good occasionally poor

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in Plymouth. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate

Biscay

Northwesterly 3 to 5, backing westerly 3 or 4 later in north. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north. Slight or moderate in far southeast, elsewhere moderate becoming rough, occasionally very rough later in north. Fair. Good.

South FitzRoy

Northerly 5 to 7. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good

North FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

Northwesterly backing westerly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east Lundy and for a time in north Fastnet. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate

Irish Sea

Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon

Northwesterly 4 or 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 7 later in north. Rough occasionally very rough later in far northwest. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides

Variable 2 to 4 at first in Hebrides, otherwise west or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later in west Rockall. Rough, occasionally moderate, becoming rough or very rough later, then becoming very rough or high later in Rockall. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Bailey

South or southwest, veering west later, 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Rough, occasionally moderate at first, becoming very rough or high later. Rain or thundery showers later. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in west. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor