Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 17 September 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 10:30 (UTC+1) on Thu 17 Sep 2026 for the period 12:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 17 Sep 2026 to 12:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 18 Sep 2026.

There are warnings of gales in Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, and Faeroes.

The general synopsis at 0600

Low north Bailey 977 expected Norwegian Basin 983 by 0600 tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southeasterly 6 or 7 at first in northern North Utsire, otherwise southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in west Viking. Rain at first in the utsires, otherwise squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first. Slight or moderate in west Cromarty, Forth and Tyne, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Fisher, German Bight

Southwest veering west, 5 or 6. Moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later

Humber, Thames, Dover, Southeast Wight

Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first, then increasing 7 at times. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northeast Humber. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first

Northwest Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, then backing westerly later. Moderate or rough in west Plymouth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain at first except in Plymouth, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Biscay

West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, but variable 2 to 4 in southeast. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast and very rough at first in north. Showers later. Good.

FitzRoy

Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far north. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

West or northwest, backing southwest later, 4 to 6. Rough or very rough in Sole and southwest Fastnet, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Showers. Moderate or good

Irish Sea

West, backing southwest later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Shannon

Northwesterly backing southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in north. High at first in far north, otherwise very rough. Showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides

Westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north Rockall, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later. Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later. Showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Bailey

Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in south, backing southerly 4 to 6 later. High at first except in far northwest, otherwise very rough, becoming rough later. Showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, South Faeroes

Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time except in southeast Fair Isle. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

North Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor