Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Saturday 18 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC+1) on Sat 18 Apr 2026 for the period 07:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 18 Apr 2026 to 07:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 19 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Faeroes 995 expected Norwegian Sea 1007 by midnight tonight. High 300 miles west of FitzRoy 1027, expected Shannon with little change by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southerly, veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough except in South Utsire. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southwest, veering northwest, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers. Good occasionally poor

Fisher, German Bight

South, veering northwest later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in south German Bight. Rain then showers, fog patches. Moderate, occasionally very poor

Humber, Thames

Southwest, veering northwest, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first

Dover, Wight, Portland

Northwest, veering northeast later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in Portland. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first

Plymouth

Northwest, veering northeast later, 3 or 4. Rough becoming moderate. Fair. Good

Biscay

North, veering northeast, 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northwest. Showers then fair. Good

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Easterly in far southeast, otherwise northeasterly, 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north. Fair. Good.

FitzRoy

Northerly, veering easterly or northeasterly, 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 in south. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good

Sole

Northwest, veering east, 2 to 4. Rough becoming moderate. Fair. Good

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

West 3 to 5, veering north or northeast 2 to 4. In Irish Sea moderate becoming smooth or slight, otherwise rough becoming moderate, occasionally slight later. Showers at first. Good

Shannon

Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Rough becoming moderate. Showers at first. Good

Rockall, Malin

Northwest 5 to 7, backing west or southwest 2 to 4. Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later. Squally showers then fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first

Hebrides

Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5. Very rough becoming rough. Squally showers then fair. Good occasionally moderate

Bailey

Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 2 to 4, then becoming variable later. Very rough becoming rough. Showers at first. Good

Fair Isle, Faeroes

Cyclonic, becoming northwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first. Squally showers. Good occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic, becoming northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough. Rain then showers. Moderate or poor, becoming good