Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Saturday 17 January 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026 for the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026 .

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Shannon 1002 moving slowly southeast and losing its identity

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Northeast Forties

Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later. Moderate, occasionally rough later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Southwest Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers, fog patches in Dogger. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in Dogger and poor elsewhere

Fisher

Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

German Bight, Humber, Thames

Southeast 3 to 5, backing east 2 to 4 later in Humber and Thames. Slight or moderate in German Bight, but smooth or slight elsewhere. Showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Dover, Wight, Portland

South backing east, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough until later in Portland, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Dover. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Plymouth

Southwest backing southeast, 3 to 5, then backing east 2 to 4 later. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough. Showers. Moderate or good

Biscay

Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough becoming mainly rough. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

North or northwest 4 to 6. Rough or very rough. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast FitzRoy

Westerly or northwesterly veering northerly, 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, becoming rough later. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor

Northwest FitzRoy

Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later. Showers, perhaps thundery, fair later. Good, occasionally poor

Sole

Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Very rough becoming rough, then moderate later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Cyclonic 2 to 4 in Fastnet, but elsewhere southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate in Irish Sea, but elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in Fastnet, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Shannon, Rockall, Malin, South Hebrides

Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first then 2 later, then becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later except in southeast Shannon. In Shannon, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later, but elsewhere moderate or rough becoming moderate. Showers. Moderate or good

North Hebrides, Bailey

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers. Moderate or good

Fair Isle

South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in Faeroes. Showers. Good, occasionally poor