Shipping forecast and gale warnings

Thursday 18 September 2025

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Thu 18 Sep 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 18 Sep 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 19 Sep 2025 .

There are warnings of gales in Viking, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Bailey 978 expected Viking 995 by 1800 Thursday. New low expected 125 miles west of Rockall 992 by same time. New high expected Trafalgar 1021 by that time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire

Southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time in Viking, then veering westerly 4 to 6 later. Moderate becoming rough, then occasionally very rough later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good

Forties, Cromarty, Forth

Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in Cromarty, then decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northeast Forties, becoming slight or moderate later in Cromarty and Forth. Showers. Good

Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight

Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in Fisher. Slight or moderate in Tyne, moderate or rough elsewhere. Showers. Good

Humber, Thames, Dover

Southwest 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east Humber and Thames. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally poor at first

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in Wight and Portland. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally poor at first

Biscay

Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 in far north, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest. Mainly fair. Good

Trafalgar

Easterly 5 or 6 in far southeast, otherwise variable, 2 to 4. Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast. Showers. Good

Southeast FitzRoy

Variable 2 to 4. Moderate. Fair. Good

Northwest FitzRoy, Sole

Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in west. Rough, occasionally very rough in west. Rain or drizzle. Good occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate at first in Irish Sea, otherwise moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon

Southwest 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic, then southwest later, 5 to 7. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin

Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor

Hebrides, Bailey

Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming north or northwest 5 to 7, then veering east or northeast 4 to 6 later. High becoming very rough, occasionally rough later. Rain or showers. Good occasionally poor

Fair Isle

Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 6 to gale 8, then veering north 4 to 6 later. Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southwest, becoming moderate or rough later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor

Faeroes, Southeast Iceland

Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9, backing north 5 to 7. Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in northwest Southeast Iceland. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor