Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Friday 4 September 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:15 (UTC+1) on Thu 3 Sep 2026 for the period 00:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 4 Sep 2026 to 00:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 5 Sep 2026.

There are warnings of gales in Humber, Thames, Dover, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, and Fair Isle.

The general synopsis at 1800

Low just west of Bailey 986 expected Fair Isle 991 by 1800 Friday. High Biscay 1023 slow-moving, with little change by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Southwest Viking

Southwesterly 4 or 5, veering westerly 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate, becoming rough or very rough later. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Northeast Viking, North Utsire

Cyclonic 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally rough later. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

South Utsire

Southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later. Moderate, becoming rough later. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later except in Forth and Tyne. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fisher, German Bight

West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate, becoming rough later. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Humber, Thames, Dover

Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in north Humber and gale 8 at first elsewhere. Slight or moderate occasionally rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east Wight and west Plymouth. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay

Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar

Cyclonic 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast FitzRoy

Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Northwest FitzRoy, Sole

Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, South Irish Sea

Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in south Irish Sea. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first

North Irish Sea

Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Shannon

West 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 later. Rough or very rough. Showers. Good, occasionally poor at first

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, South Bailey

Southwesterly veering westerly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first. Squally thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

North Bailey

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7. Rough. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in west and later in east. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south Faeroes and 3 elsewhere. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in south Faeroes. Rain. Good, occasionally poor