Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 19 February 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC) on Thu 19 Feb 2026 for the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 19 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay, FitzRoy, Sole, Fastnet, Shannon, Rockall and Fair Isle.

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Rockall 991 expected Hebrides 995 by midnight tonight. Low Portland 987 losing its identity

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty

Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, increasing gale 8 at times later in Viking and North Utsire. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in Viking and North Utsire. Showers. Good

Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, veering southwest later. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good

Fisher

Southeast 4 to 6, veering south 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate until later in east, moderate or rough in west. Fair. Good

German Bight

Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far west, veering southerly later. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good. Light icing

Humber, Thames

East or southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in Thames and later Humber. Occasional rain or sleet. Good, occasionally poor

Dover, Wight

Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west Wight. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Portland, Plymouth, Biscay

Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in Plymouth and Biscay, decreasing 4 to 6 in Portland and Plymouth and later Biscay. Very rough or high at first in Plymouth and until later in Biscay, otherwise rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north. Fair. Good.

FitzRoy, Sole

Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing west or southwest 5 to 7 later. Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later. Showers. Moderate or poor

Lundy, Fastnet

Northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9 at first in southwest Fastnet, otherwise 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later. Very rough or high at first in southwest Fastnet, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in Lundy. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Irish Sea

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon, Southwest Rockall

Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing west or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or poor

Northeast Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

Cyclonic 5 to 7. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northeast Rockall. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southerly 6 to gale 8 later in east Fair Isle. Rough or very rough. Rain or wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor