Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Saturday 18 July 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 10:30 (UTC+1) on Sat 18 Jul 2026 for the period 12:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 18 Jul 2026 to 12:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 19 Jul 2026.

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, and Fisher.

The general synopsis at 0600

High 500 miles west of Rockall 1033 slow-moving, intensifying 1034 by 0600 tomorrow. Low southern Sweden 1003 losing its identity

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Northerly 6 to gale 8, backing northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough until later except in west Viking, otherwise moderate or rough. Mainly fair. Moderate or good

South Utsire

Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 in west but cyclonic 3 to 5 in east. Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east. Thundery showers. Moderate or good

Forties

Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east. Rough or very rough in east, moderate or rough in west. Showers at first. Good

Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally variable 3 later in Cromarty and Forth. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northeast Dogger and slight in west Cromarty and west Forth. Showers at first. Good

Fisher

Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northwest, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east. Thundery showers. Moderate or good

German Bight

North or northwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Showers, thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate

Humber, Thames

Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 except in south Thames. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in Humber. Showers. Good

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in north and east Dover and west Plymouth. Fair. Good

Biscay, FitzRoy

North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first in Biscay. Slight, occasionally moderate later in northwest. Thundery showers in south FitzRoy. Good, occasionally moderate in south FitzRoy

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later near the algarve. Slight or moderate. Showers in west. Good.

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Northwesterly 4 to 6 at first in northwestern Irish Sea, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east Lundy, north Fastnet and Irish Sea. Fair. Good

Shannon

Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east. Moderate. Fair. Good

Rockall, Malin

Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east Malin. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good

Hebrides, Bailey

Northerly at first in Hebrides, otherwise northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest Bailey. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northwest of Bailey. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good

Fair Isle

North 4 to 6, backing northwest 3 to 5 later. Mainly moderate, but occasionally rough in far southeast and slight later elsewhere. Mainly fair. Good

Faeroes

North or northwest backing west, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair then drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate

Southeast Iceland

Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 4 to 6 in south and west. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in south and west. Occasional drizzle, fog patches in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north