Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 31 December 2025

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC) on Wed 31 Dec 2025 for the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 31 Dec 2025 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, FitzRoy, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 0600

Low 300 miles northeast of Iceland 998 expected southern Norway 978 by 0600 tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking

West or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering north or northwest gale 8 to storm 10 later. Rough or very rough, becoming high later. Showers, becoming wintry later. Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first

North Utsire, South Utsire

Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later. Showers, becoming wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Forties, Cromarty

West 6 to gale 8 veering northwest 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high except in west Cromarty. Showers, becoming wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames

West or northwest 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 except in Tyne, Humber and Thames. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough except in Thames, then high later in north Dogger and west Fisher. Showers, becoming squally, and wintry later in Forth. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Dover, Wight

Variable 2 to 4 becoming west 4 to 6. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Portland, Plymouth

East or northeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 2, then west or northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight until later in Portland, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Biscay

East 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 5 to 7 in west. Moderate, occasionally slight in east, occasionally rough later in west. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Southwest FitzRoy

Southeasterly 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8. Moderate becoming rough, then occasionally very rough later. Showers then rain. Good, becoming moderate or poor

Northeast FitzRoy, Sole

Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally rough in west and slight in east. Showers. Good

Lundy, Fastnet

Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight at first in Lundy, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Irish Sea

Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then occasionally rough later in north. Showers. Good

Shannon

Southeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east. Showers. Good

Rockall, Malin

Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in Malin, perhaps gale 8 later in Malin. Slight at first in east Malin, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. Showers. Good

Hebrides, Bailey

Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in Bailey. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high except in west Bailey. Showers, becoming wintry. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in western Southeast Iceland, occasionally storm 10 elsewhere. Rough or very rough, becoming very rogh or high except in western Southeast Iceland. Wintry shwoers. Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first