Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 12 February 2026

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 17:25 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026 for the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026 .

There are warnings of gales in North Utsire, Biscay, Trafalgar, FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Shannon and Rockall.

The general synopsis at midday

Low Rockall 977 moving slowly southeast and losing its identity by midday tomorrow

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire

Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 in North Utsire. Moderate, occasionally rough later. Snow showers. Good, occasionally poor

South Utsire

Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good. Light icing

Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger

Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate in Cromarty, otherwise moderate, occasionally rough at first. Rain then wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor

Fisher, German Bight

Northeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Wintry showers, rain or snow in German Bight. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in German Bight. Light icing in far northeast Fisher

Humber, Thames

Northwest at first in Thames, otherwise northeast 4 to 6. Moderate or rough at first in Humber, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Dover, Wight, Portland

West or southwest, backing northeast later, 4 to 6. In Dover and Wight, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later, in Portland, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good

Plymouth

Westerly veering northerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far west. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west, becoming moderate or rough in east. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Biscay

West or southwest 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. High becoming very rough, becoming rough later. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

Trafalgar (issued 0015 UTC)

West 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough. Fair, then rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor later.

South FitzRoy

Southwesterly veering northwesterly, 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northeast and later in southwest. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor

North FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet

Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northerly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in north FitzRoy and Sole. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Irish Sea

Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon

Westerly veering northerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east. Very rough, becoming rough later except in far south. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin

Northeast 6 or 7, backing north 3 to 5 later, occasionally gale 8 at first in Rockall. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in Malin and later in Rockall. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor

Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Northerly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic later in northwest Bailey and Southeast Iceland, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Snow showers. Good, occasionally very poor