Coast and sea

Inshore waters and strong winds

General situation

High pressure across the southeast, giving quiet conditions and a few fog patches for some southern waters at first, will decline, as low pressure moves in near the north of Scotland bringing a strengthening westerly or southwesterly flow across the inshore waters and with a risk of gales in the north, along with rain or showers for many areas.

Issued at:

For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period to

Inshore waters forecast and strong winds map

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwesterly, veering westerly later, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then increasing gale 8 at times in north.
Sea state
In north, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, in south, slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth.
Weather
Rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state
In north, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, in south, slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth.
Weather
Showers, rain for a time later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
South or southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
South or southwest, veering west later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate except near shore.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate except near shore.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwest, veering west later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate except near shore.
Weather
Rain for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
West, backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Rain for a time.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly, then backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near northeast Norfolk and later in south.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west.
Weather
Rain for a time later, fog patches until later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain for a time, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northwest, backing southwest later, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwest, veering northwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
Weather
Fog patches at first, then occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northwest, backing southwest later, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east, occasionally smooth in lyme bay.
Weather
Showers, drizzle and fog patches later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate to very poor later.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times in west.
Weather
Rain for a time, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough in west.
Weather
Showers, drizzle and fog patches later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate to very poor later.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain and fog patches at first, showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain and fog patches later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate to very poor later.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather
Rain and fog patches, then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
West backing southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Isle of Man (12)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
South or southwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west 6, then west or northwest 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain at first, showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
West or northwest 5, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers at first, occasional rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwest veering west, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough mainly in north, becoming rough or very rough later in far north.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
West, backing southwest for a time, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first and gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in far north, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain for a time later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwesterly veering westerly, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in North Channel.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Westerly, backing southwesterly for a time, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first and gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough near Mull of Kintyre, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain for a time later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwesterly veering westerly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, but mainly moderate in good shelter in east.
Weather
Rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Westerly 5 to 7, backing southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in shelter.
Weather
Showers, rain for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch (16)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwest veering west, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough southwest of skye and in far north.
Weather
Rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, backing south or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic then west, 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough except just north and east of skye.
Weather
Showers, rain for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwest veering west, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, backing south or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic then west, 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far west.
Weather
Showers, rain for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles (18)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
South or southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough except in sheltered east, occasionally high later in west and north.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)

Strong wind warning

Valid Thursday 27 Mar 2025 at 1800 UTC until Friday 28 Mar 2025 at 0600 UTC

General situation

An area of low pressure will move east or northeast, crossing the Faeroes on Thursday night before passing to the north of Shetland on Friday.

Forecast

Wind
South veering southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in west
Weather
Rain then showers
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 28 Mar until 1800 UTC on Friday 28 Mar

Wind
Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high in north and west
Weather
Showers
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands (19)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northwest 2 to 4, locally variable 1 to 3 at times, backing southwest 3 to 4 by midnight, increasing 4 to 5 by dawn tomorrow, veering northwest during the morning, increasing 5 to 6 by mid-afternoon.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, with a low swell, increasing slight to moderate by midday tomorrow, locally rather rough.
Weather
Mist or fog banks, clearing overnight rain in the northwest by dawn, spreading southeast, clearing by midday risk of isolated showers developing.
Visibility
Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northwest 5 to 6, decreasing 4 to 5 by midnight, backing southwest 2 to 4 by midday Saturday.
Sea state
Moderate to rather rough, decreasing slight to moderate with a low swell by dawn Saturday.
Weather
Risk of isolated showers until around midnight.
Visibility
Good, perhaps occasionally moderate.

The inshore waters forecast information

Forecasts for UK inshore waters are issued four times a day and cover a period of 24 hours from 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 UTC.

The coastal waters around the British Isles are divided into 19 areas which extend up to 12 nautical miles offshore.

The forecast contains details of wind direction and force, sea state, weather and visibility.

Strong coastal winds (force 6 or more) are displayed for the first 24 hours of the inshore waters forecast.

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.

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