Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Tuesday 24 February 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026 for the period 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 25 Feb 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 0600

Low west of Bailey 973, moving rapidly northeast, expected Greenland sea 959 by 0600 tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time in Viking and North Utsire. Rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne

South 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair in Tyne, otherwise occasional rain, fog patches in Forties. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in Forties

Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber

South, but south or southeast in Fisher, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Drizzle, fog patches becoming fog banks, then extensive fog later in Fisher and German Bight. Moderate or good occasionally very poor in Dogger and Humber, moderate to very poor becoming poor or very poor later in Fisher and German Bight

Thames, Dover

South 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first

Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay

Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, but 4 to 6 in Plymouth and Biscay, becoming variable 2 to 4 in south Biscay. Slight or moderate in Wight, moderate in Portland, moderate or rough elsewhere. Mainly fair, rain later in west Plymouth. Good occasionally moderate

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

In southeast, variable 2 to 4, but south 3 to 5 at times. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times. In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight later. in northwest, moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. In southeast, fair . In northwest, rain or showers. In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy, Sole

Southerly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later, then veering westerly later in west. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

South 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in Irish Sea, otherwise moderate or rough, but rough or very rough in west Fastnet. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor later

Shannon, Rockall, Malin

South 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor later

Hebrides, Bailey

Southerly becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in Southeast Iceland, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers, wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor