Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Saturday 18 April 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 11:30 (UTC+1) on Sat 18 Apr 2026 for the period 13:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 18 Apr 2026 to 13:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 19 Apr 2026 .

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

The general synopsis at 0600

Low Faeroes 997 expected Norwegian Sea 1011 by 0600 tomorrow. High just west of FitzRoy 1028 expected Ireland 1027 by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in Viking. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southwest veering northwest, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times. Slight or moderate. Showers. Moderate or good

Fisher, German Bight

Cyclonic becoming northwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east German Bight. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Humber, Thames

West or southwest veering northwest, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Northwest veering north, then northeast later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in Dover and Wight. Smooth or slight in Dover, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west Plymouth. Mainly fair. Good

Biscay

North or northeast, veering east later, 4 to 6. Moderate. Showers in south. Good

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Easterly in far southeast, otherwise northeasterly, 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north. Fair. Good.

South FitzRoy

Northeasterly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good

North FitzRoy

Northeasterly 3 to 5 veering easterly 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Fair. Good

Sole

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Fair. Good

Lundy, Fastnet

Northwest veering north, then northeast later, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good

Irish Sea

West 4 to 6 veering north or northwest 2 to 4. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good

Shannon

Northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later. Rough becoming moderate. Showers at first. Good

Rockall

West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northeast. Showers. Good

Malin

Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first and slight later. Showers. Good

Hebrides, Bailey

Northwest 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Rough, occasionally very rough at first and moderate later. Showers, squally at first. Good

Fair Isle, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 becoming westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later in Southeast Iceland. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor