Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low Rockall 986 expected Hebrides 995 by 1800 Thursday. Low Plymouth 986 losing its identity

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 19 Feb 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 20 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in northeast, otherwise southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good. Light icing.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northeast later, 4 to 6,.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Westerly storm force 10 now decreased severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent

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

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 continuing

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

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in northeast, otherwise northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Northwesterly storm force 10 now decreased severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7, backing southerly or southwesterly later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: In southwest, northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7, backing southerly or southwesterly later. In northeast, cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southwest, high or very high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later. in northeast, rough or very rough.
Weather: In southwest, showers. In northeast, showers.
Visibility: In southwest, moderate or poor. In northeast, good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shipping forecast information

The shipping forecast is issued four times a day at 2300, 0500, 1100, 1700 UTC and covers a period of 24 hours from 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 UTC respectively.

The waters around the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas shown on the map.

The forecast contains details of gale warnings in force, a general synopsis and sea-area forecasts containing wind direction and force, sea state, weather and visibility.

Gale warnings are issued as required throughout the day (for winds of Gale Force 8 or more).

Marine forecasts disclaimer

In the UK, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is responsible for the provision of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) to ships at sea, which includes the broadcast of warnings and forecasts. The Met Office initiates warnings and prepares routine forecasts for dissemination on behalf of the MCA.

Caution: The internet is not part of the Maritime Safety Information system and should never be relied upon as the only means to obtain the latest forecast and warning information. Access to the service may be interrupted or delayed from time to time, updates may also be delayed.

Please refer to GMDSS services, INMARSAT SafetyNET or international NAVTEX for the latest information. When using these web pages, always check that the page on your screen is not from your cache. Use the Refresh or Reload button if in any doubt.