Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Tuesday 20 October 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 16:25 (UTC+1) on Tue 20 Oct 2026 for the period 18:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 20 Oct 2026 to 18:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 21 Oct 2026.

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Fisher, Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay, FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, and Bailey.

The general synopsis at midday

Low Rockall 994 losing its identity

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Southwest Viking

Southeasterly 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good

Northeast Viking, North Utsire

Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in eastern North Utsire. Showers. Good

South Utsire, Forties

Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in northern South Utsire, veering southerly 4 or 5 later in Forties. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain at times. Moderate or good

Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic mainly southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Fisher, German Bight

East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in Fisher, veering south or southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate in southeast Fisher and south and east German Bight, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Humber

Southeast 5 to 7 veering southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in west. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Thames, Dover

Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming south 5 to 7, veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough later in Dover. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

South or southwest 4 to 6 veering west or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high in southwest Plymouth. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Biscay, FitzRoy

Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 except in far south. Moderate at first in Biscay and southeast FitzRoy, otherwise rough or very rough. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northwest. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast. Showers. Good.

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon, Rockall

Southeast 3 to 5 at first in Lundy and Irish Sea, otherwise cyclonic becoming west or northwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 except in Irish Sea. In Lundy and Irish Sea, slight becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, elsewhere rough or very rough, occasionally high. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

Southeast veering northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in Malin and Bailey. Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in east Malin and east Hebrides. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes

Southeast 5 to 7. Rough or very rough. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 4 to 6. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor