Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low 100 mile west of Rockall 983 expected Rockall 991 by midnight tonight. Atlantic low 997 expected Portland 987 by same time.

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 19 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6 at first, otherwise southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6 at first, otherwise southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6 at first, otherwise southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: Southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first and later in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first and later in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough, becoming rough or very rough in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 23:32 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first, but increasing storm 10 for a time in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly later, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 for a time in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 04:47 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later in south.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:46 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Gale force 8 veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 for a time later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high for a time in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, and later in southwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

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

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, but 6 or 7 at times in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8 at first in northwest, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in north.

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.