Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 16 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC+1) on Thu 16 Apr 2026 for the period 07:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 16 Apr 2026 to 07:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 17 Apr 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Shannon, Rockall and Fair Isle.

The general synopsis at midnight

Low 450 miles west of Sole 997 expected 100 miles west of south Rockall 993 by midnight tonight

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Northeast Forties

Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6. Rough or very rough at first in Viking, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain then showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Southwest Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southerly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time. Moderate or rough at first in southwest Forties and northeast Cromarty, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate

Fisher, German Bight

Southeasterly 5 or 6 at first in northeast Fisher, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southeasterly 2 to 4 later. Rough at first in far northwest of Fisher, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain at first, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Northwest Biscay

Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in Wight and Portland, then occasionally 6 later in Plymouth. Slight or moderate in Humber, Thames, Dover and southeast Wight, elsewhere mainly moderate or rough, but very rough at first in west Plymouth and northwest Biscay. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Southeast Biscay, Southeast FitzRoy

Variable 2 to 4. Rough or very rough at first in southeast FitzRoy, otherwise moderate or rough. Fog patches in southeast Biscay. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in southeast Biscay

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4. In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough. Mainly fair. In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good.

Northwest FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in west Sole. In Irish Sea, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, elsewhere rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in Lundy and northeast Fastnet. Showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Shannon, South Rockall

Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later in Shannon. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later in Shannon. Rain or showers. Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first

North Rockall, Malin, Hebrides

Southwesterly backing southerly, then becoming cyclonic except in Malin, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough in east Malin and Hebrides, but elsewhere rough or very rough. Showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Bailey

Cyclonic 3 to 5. Rough, becoming moderate later except in southeast. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes

Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 at first in northeast Fair Isle, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southerly 4 to 6. Very rough at first in far northeast of Fair Isle, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain or showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first

Southeast Iceland

Variable 2 to 4. Rough, becoming moderate in west and south. Rain or showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor