Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 25 February 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:30 (UTC) on Wed 25 Feb 2026 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 26 Feb 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Feb 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 1800

High southwest Biscay 1020 dissipating

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain, fog patches until later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Variable 2 to 4 at first in Cromarty, otherwise south or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in Forties and Dogger. Rain or showers, fog patches at first in Cromarty. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in Cromarty and poor at first elsewhere

Fisher, German Bight

Southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in south German Bight, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Occasional rain, fog banks until later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Humber, Thames

Southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain later. Moderate or good

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Northwest Biscay

Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 increasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. In Dover and southeast Wight, smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, but elsewhere, moderate or rough. Rain later except in Dover and southeast Wight. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southeast Biscay

Variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Trafalgar

Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast, becoming variable 3 or 4 in northwest. Rough, becoming moderate later in north. Showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first

FitzRoy

Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later in south. Mainly fair then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Southwesterly 4 or 5 increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 in west Sole and Irish Sea, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 except in southeast Sole. Rough or very rough in Sole and southwest Fastnet, elsewhere moderate or rough, but occasionally slight in Irish Sea. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Shannon

Southwest veering west 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

South or southwest 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west later in Rockall and Bailey and perhaps increasing severe gale 9 at times. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east Malin, becoming very rough or high later in Rockall and Bailey. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west. Rain or showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, then perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. Rain or showers, wintry in Southeast Iceland. Good, occasionally poor