Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Wednesday 28 January 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:30 (UTC) on Wed 28 Jan 2026 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 29 Jan 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 30 Jan 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Fisher, Plymouth, Biscay, FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 1800

New low moving east expected west Shannon 976 by 1800 Thursday

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 8 at first and later, but 4 to 6 in northeast Viking and North Utsire. In North Utsire, slight or moderate, elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first and later in Viking. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor. Light icing in South Utsire

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 except in Tyne, perhaps gale 8 later in Forties. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north Forties and Cromarty. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

Fisher, German Bight

Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in north Fisher. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Moderate or good

Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight

East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in Wight. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor

Portland

Southeast veering southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time. Moderate or rough. Rain later. Moderate or good

Plymouth, Biscay

Cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 for a time, increasing gale 8 at times later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first and later in west Biscay. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar

West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Very rough or high, occasionally rough in southeast. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

FitzRoy

Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, increasing 7 to severe gale 9. Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in west. Rain or squally showers. Poor

Sole

Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in west. Squally showers. Moderate or poor

Lundy, Fastnet

South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in Lundy. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Irish Sea

Southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough. Rain. Moderate or good

Shannon

Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later in south. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin

Southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in Malin. Showers. Moderate or good

Hebrides, South Bailey

Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Rough or very rough. Showers. Moderate or good

North Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes, East Southeast Iceland

Southeasterly 5 to 7. Rough or very rough. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

West Southeast Iceland

Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6. Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough. Rain. Moderate or poor