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 23:30 (UTC) on Sat 17 Jan 2026 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 18 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Jan 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Shannon, Rockall, Bailey and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Iberia 1008 expected Biscay 1014 by 1800 Sunday

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Forties

East or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Cromarty, Forth

South or southeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Tyne, Dogger

South or southeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Fisher

Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

German Bight, Humber, Thames

East or southeast 3 to 5. Mainly smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate at first in north German Bight. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Variable, mainly southeast, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in Dover and Wight, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in Plymouth. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay

Cyclonic 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in south. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast FitzRoy

Northerly or northeasterly backing westerly later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in south. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Northwest FitzRoy, Sole

Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7. Moderate or rough. Rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

South or southeast 3 to 5, but in Fastnet, cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in Fastnet. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Shannon, Rockall

Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later

Malin, Hebrides

South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Bailey

Southeast 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8. Moderate, becoming rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes

Southeast 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate, becoming rough or very rough. Showers, rain later in west. Good, occasionally poor