Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Tuesday 4 August 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 16:25 (UTC+1) on Tue 4 Aug 2026 for the period 18:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 4 Aug 2026 to 18:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 5 Aug 2026.

There are warnings of gales in Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, and Bailey.

The general synopsis at midday

Low northern Ireland 1002 expected northwest Forties 1001 by midday tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Easterly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, but 4 to 6 in Viking. Slight or moderate. Thundery rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Forties, Cromarty

Cyclonic 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, but rough at first in north Cromarty. Thundery showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Forth, Tyne, Dogger

South or southeast veering southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later except in Forth. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fisher, German Bight, Humber

Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwest 4 to 6, but later in Fisher. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers, fog patches in Fisher. Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor in Fisher

Thames, Dover

Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Southwest, veering west or northwest, 4 to 6. Smooth or slight at first in Wight, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Biscay, FitzRoy

Westerly veering northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west FitzRoy. Moderate, but slight or moderate in southeast. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers. Moderate or good.

Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

Southwest veering west, 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in Sole and Fastnet, occasionally slight in Lundy. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Irish Sea

West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon

Northwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall

Cyclonic becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Malin

Cyclonic, mainly northwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate until later in east, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time in west. Thundery rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Hebrides, Bailey

Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 in Bailey. Moderate or rough, but rough or very rough at first in far south, becoming moderate later in Bailey. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in west. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate at first in northeast. Rain, fog patches in southeast. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in southeast

Faeroes

Northeast 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in far south, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later in north. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate