Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Sunday 20 September 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:15 (UTC+1) on Sat 19 Sep 2026 for the period 00:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 20 Sep 2026 to 00:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 21 Sep 2026.

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Hebrides, Bailey, and Fair Isle.

The general synopsis at 1800

High 200 miles west of north FitzRoy 1025 expected Lundy 1031 by 1800 Sunday

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty

Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later in west Forties and Cromarty. Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in Cromarty, and later also in west Forties. Squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first

Forth, Tyne

Southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Moderate or rough at first in east Forth, otherwise slight or moderate. Fair. Good

Dogger, Fisher, German Bight

Westerly veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first in German Bight, decreasing 5 later in south and west Dogger. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough except in south and west Dogger. Showers, becoming squally in Fisher. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in Fisher

Humber, Thames, Dover

Southwest veering northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later in Thames and Dover. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in central and eastern Humber. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Southwest 4 to 6 veering west or northwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Rough at first in west Plymouth, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming smooth or slight later in Wight. Occasional rain until later. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay

Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5 later. Mainly moderate, but rough at first in far northwest. Mainly fair. Moderate or good

Trafalgar

Easterly 5 to 7 in far southeast, but elsewhere northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Mainly moderate, but moderate or rough in far southeast. Fair. Good

South FitzRoy

Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good

North FitzRoy, Sole

Westerly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain at first in Sole. Good, occasionally poor at first in Sole

Lundy, Fastnet

West 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in Lundy, becoming variable 3 or less. Rough until later in southwest Fastnet, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first

Irish Sea

West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers at first. Good

Shannon

Northwest backing south or southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first. Very rough at first in far north, otherwise rough, but becoming moderate later in southeast. Occasional rain. Moderate or good

Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey

West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in Hebrides and Bailey, then backing south later and decreasing 4 for a time. Rough or very rough, becoming rough later. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Squally showers. Moderate or good

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south Faeroes, backing southwesterly 2 to 4 later. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Squally showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate