Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Friday 8 May 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 16:25 (UTC+1) on Fri 8 May 2026 for the period 18:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 8 May 2026 to 18:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 9 May 2026.

There are warnings of gales in FitzRoy, Sole, Shannon, Faeroes, and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at midday

Low just north of Faeroes 999 expected Norwegian Sea 1004 by midday tomorrow. Low just west of Trafalgar 998 slow-moving, filling 999 by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Northwest Viking

Southwesterly veering westerly, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Southeast Viking, North Utsire

Southerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first

South Utsire, Forties

Southerly becoming cyclonic, then northerly later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Cromarty, Forth

Cyclonic, becoming mainly north, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor

Tyne, Northwest Dogger

Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6. Slight, becoming moderate later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast Dogger, Northwest Fisher

Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Rain later. Good

Southeast Fisher, German Bight

Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good

Humber, Thames, Dover

East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Mainly fair. Good

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

East or northeast 4 to 6. Smooth or slight until later in Wight and Portland, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, thundery later in south. Good, occasionally moderate

Biscay

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

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. Slight, becoming moderate or rough. Thundery rain or showers. Good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 in far northwest. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far northwest. Thundery rain. Good, occasionally poor

Sole

Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west. Rough, occasionally moderate in east and very rough in west. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Northeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first, becoming moderate or rough in Fastnet. Showers. Good

Shannon

Northeast 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. Rough, becoming very rough at times in south. Showers. Moderate or good

Rockall, Malin

North or northeast 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east Malin. Showers. Good

Hebrides, Bailey

Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Rough, occasionally very rough at first and moderate later. Showers. Good

Fair Isle

Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north. Showers, squally in north. Good, occasionally moderate

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 3 to 5 in far western Southeast Iceland, otherwise northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in Southeast Iceland, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough later. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor