Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Monday 16 February 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 17:25 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026 for the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay, FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Shannon, Rockall, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle and Faeroes.

The general synopsis at midday

Low Forties 984 expected German Bight 998 by midday tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher

Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times, but occasionally severe gale 9 except in the utsires, Forth and Fisher. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in northwest Viking and moderate elsewhere. Rain or wintry showers. Moderate or poor. Light icing in Fisher

German Bight

Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough later in west. Rain or snow. Moderate or poor. Light icing

Humber, Thames

Northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in Humber. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor

Dover

Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Moderate or good

Wight, Portland

West 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 4 to 6, then southeast 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough at first in Portland, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in Wight. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Plymouth, Biscay, East FitzRoy

Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

Westerly 4 or 5 in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

West FitzRoy, West Sole

Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west Sole. Rain. Good, occasionally poor

East Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

Westerly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 4, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later. Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later in Lundy and Fastnet. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor

Irish Sea

Northwest, veering east later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good

Shannon

Cyclonic 6 to gale 8. Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough. Rain. Moderate or poor

Southwest Rockall

Northeasterly 5, veering southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 later. Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough. Showers. Good, occasionally poor

Northeast Rockall, Malin

Northerly veering northeasterly, then southeasterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times. Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later in Malin. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor

Hebrides, Bailey

Northerly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 4, then southeasterly 6 later in southwest. Very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming rough later. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fair Isle

North or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Northerly 7 to severe gale 9 at first in Faeroes, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6. Very rough or high at first in Faeroes, otherwise rough or very rough. Snow showers. Good, occasionally very poor