Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low northwest FitzRoy 991 expected Wight 991 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 19 Feb 2026.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor at first.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Wintry showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forties

Wind: In northeast, variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6. In southwest, southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In northeast, moderate or rough. in southwest, moderate becoming rough.
Weather: In northeast, wintry showers at first. In southwest, showers.
Visibility: In northeast, good, occasionally very poor at first. In southwest, good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, but in east, moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Southeasterly mainly 5 to 7, but 4 at first in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, but increasing 7 in southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, but light icing developing.

Humber

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair then rain or snow.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate to very poor except in northeast.

Thames

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair then rain or snow.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate to very poor.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or 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: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Biscay

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

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
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: 09:50 (UTC) on Wed 18 Feb 2026

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 increasing storm force 10 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, then decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
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 becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in east, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or 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: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or 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 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

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

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: In southwest, northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first. In northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: In southwest, very rough or high, becoming very high for a time. in northeast, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: In southwest, showers. In northeast, rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

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

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In southwest, cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9. In northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southwest, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: In southwest, rain or showers. In northeast, rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

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

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

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

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

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

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in south.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

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

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northeasterly 7 or gale 8 at first in west, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.