Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Friday 18 September 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 16:25 (UTC+1) on Fri 18 Sep 2026 for the period 18:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 18 Sep 2026 to 18:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 19 Sep 2026.

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

The general synopsis at midday

New low moving quickly northeast, expected Norwegian Basin 976 by midday tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking

Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Rough, occasionally moderate at first in northwest, becoming rough or very rough later. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

North Utsire, South Utsire

Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first and perhaps gale 8 at times later. Rough, becoming rough or very rough later. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Forties

Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Rough, occasionally moderate in west. Showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally poor

Cromarty, Forth, Tyne

Southwest 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast Cromarty. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames

Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later in Humber. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in Humber. Rain or showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally moderate

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Southwest 4 to 6. Mainly moderate occasionally slight, but moderate or rough in Plymouth. Rain. Moderate or good

Biscay

In north, westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, but in south, variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly later. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast. Moderate or rough, but smooth or slight in sheltered southeast. Showers at first. Good.

South FitzRoy

Northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good

North FitzRoy, Sole

Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Rough, but occasionally moderate in north FitzRoy. Rain in Sole. Moderate or good

Lundy, Fastnet

West or southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first and 4 later. Moderate or rough. Rain. Good, occasionally moderate

Irish Sea

Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Good, occasionally poor at first

Shannon

Southwesterly veering westerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north and 2 later in south. Rough or very rough. Rain. Moderate or good

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides

Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first in Malin. Very rough, but moderate or rough in east Malin. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

Bailey

In northwest, cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly 4 to 6, elsewhere southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate for a time in far northwest. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes

Cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8,. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 3 to 5. Occasionally 2 in north and 6 at first in south, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor