Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 16 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC+1) on Thu 16 Apr 2026 for the period 13:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 16 Apr 2026 to 13:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 17 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Shannon, Rockall and Malin.

The general synopsis at 0600

Low 300 miles west of Shannon 994 expected 991 Rockall by 0600 tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6. Rough or very rough at first in Viking, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in South Utsire. Rain then showers, fog patches later in South Utsire. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in South Utsire

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southwesterly backing southerly, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in Forties. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Fisher

South or southeast, veering southwest for a time, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later

German Bight

Southwest backing south or southeast, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later

Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Northwest Biscay

Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in Wight and Portland, then occasionally 6 later in Plymouth. In Portland, Plymouth and Biscay, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Southeast Biscay, Southeast FitzRoy

Variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4. In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough. Mainly fair. In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good.

Northwest FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in west Sole. In Irish Sea, slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south, elsewhere rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in Lundy and northeast Fastnet. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Shannon

South veering southwest. 6 to gale 8. Very rough, occasionally high later. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Rockall

Southerly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in south. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Malin, Hebrides

Southwesterly backing southerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in southwest Malin. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west Malin. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Bailey

Cyclonic 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes

Cyclonic becoming southerly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor