Coast and Sea
() weather
Inshore waters and strong winds
General situation
A cold front will move southeastwards across the United Kingdom during the course of Thursday. This will bring an interval of rain to most areas and introduce a colder west to northwesterly airflow, with showers in the west and north.
Issued at: .
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026
Inshore waters and strong winds map
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 2 to 4 veering southwest 3 to 5, then west 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southwest 3 or 4, veering west 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming southwest 3 or 4, veering west 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate later in north.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly veering southwesterly 2 to 4, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later near northeastern Norfolk.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near northeastern Norfolk.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming southwesterly 3 or 4, veering northwesterly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming west 3 or 4, then veering northwest later and increasing 5 or 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 2 to 4 backing west or northwest 4 to 6, veering north 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east but becoming rough later in west.
- Weather
- Fog patches at first in west, occasional rain for a time in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North 2 to 4 veering southeast 3 to 5, then south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west and smooth at first in east.
- Weather
- Rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate later in west.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 2 to 4 veering west or northwest 4 to 6, then north or northwest 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east and rough later in west.
- Weather
- Fog patches at first, then occasional rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest 2 to 4 veering southeast 3 to 5, then south 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 2 to 4 veering west or southwest 4 or 5, then west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less then south or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time in north.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 2 to 4 veering southwest 4 or 5, then west 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth becoming slight, then moderate later.
- Weather
- Fog patches then rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 5 or 6 backing south 2 to 4, then southeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming smooth or slight, becoming moderate again later in north.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 2 or 3 increasing 4 or 5, veering west 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches, then rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 5 or 6 decreasing 3 or 4, then backing south 4 or 5, backing southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming slight, then becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 or 4 veering west 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In far north, moderate, becoming rough later, but elsewhere, smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6 backing south 3 to 5, then southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north and smooth at first in south.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain 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
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 veering westerly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate except in far north, then occasionally rough later near the Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly backing southerly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time at first, backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in North Channel.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in North Channel and smooth in far north.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5 veering west 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east but becoming very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West backing south 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time at first, backing southeast 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South veering southwest 4 to 6, veering west 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight just east and north of skye, but elsewhere slight or moderate, but occasionally rough later in far north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly backing southerly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time at first, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight just east and north of skye, elsewhere mainly slight or moderate, but occasionally rough in west.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South veering southwest 4 to 6, veering west 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough except near Sutherland.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly backing southerly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time at first, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough near Sutherland, but elsewhere rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 4 to 6 veering southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Thursday 09 Apr 2026 at 0000 UTC until Thursday 09 Apr 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation
Cold front will slowly move east across Shetland Waters.
Forecast
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west and far north
- Weather
- Rain, becoming fair later in west
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Thursday 09 Apr until 0000 UTC on Friday 10 Apr
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less in east for a time
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate east of Shetland and in far south
- Weather
- Rain or showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to northwest 2 to 3, locally variable 1 to 2 at first, increasing 4 to 5 by midday, perhaps locally 6 late afternoon and early evening, veering north to northeast by midnight.
- Sea state
- Smooth locally slight, with a low swell, increasing slight to moderate by late afternoon.
- Weather
- Mist and fog banks spreading in from the west, then clearing eastwards early afternoon.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, locally poor or very poor until early afternoon, becoming good later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 4, locally 5 at first, veering east to southeast by midday, locally 5 in the afternoon and early evening, veering south to southwest towards midnight.
- Sea state
- Smooth to slight, with a low swell.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
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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