Coast and sea
General situation
During the next 12 hours a deep area of low pressure will move eastwards across the south coast of England. This will bring gale to storm force winds across southern coastal areas of England and Wales, along with a risk of hurricane force winds briefly on Thursday evening across the far southwest of England.
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 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6 later in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth but becoming rough later in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in Moray Firth.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, but elsewhere moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming wintry in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in east.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then becoming southeasterly later, occasionally 6 later in far north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 in Firth of Forth, increasing 6 at times later in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East or southeast 3 to 5 backing northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East or northeast 4 or 5 veering southeast 2 to 4, then south 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6 backing northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northeast 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4, veering south or southeast 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at first in south, otherwise wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then becoming northerly or northwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, and perhaps sleet later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet, then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 or 6 increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first except in east, then becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming very rough or high for a time except in far east.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, perhaps becoming wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at first in east, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor at first in east, otherwise good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, then northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, mainly gale 8 to storm 10, but violent storm 11 or hurricance force 12 at first in west, then decreasing 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very high at first in west, otherwise very rough or high, but becoming moderate or rough except in far west.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry for a time in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough until later in far west, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming slight in Lyme Bay.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 becoming northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, but increasing violent storm 11 or hurricane force 12 for a time at first in far south, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- High at first near Cornwall, otherwise rough or very rough in west and moderate or rough in east.
- Weather
- Rain, or perhaps sleet in east, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, backing west 2 or 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, but in west, mainly rough, but occasionally very rough at first near Cornwall.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeasterly backing northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but occasionally very rough at first in south and slight in north.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5 backing west 4 to 6, then southwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough until later in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest backing north 4 to 6, then decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in south, smooth or slight in north.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at first in south, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in south.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less then cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps becoming wintry.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeasterly backing northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, becoming variable 2 for a time in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later except in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 2 to 4 backing south or southwest 3 to 5, then veering northwest 4 to 6 for a time later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in North Channel, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps wintry at first in far north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in far north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight until later except near the Mull of Kintyre, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except to the east of Islay and Jura.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 or 4 at first in north, otherwise variable 3 or less, becoming southerly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight just north and east of Skye, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 or 4 at first in north, otherwise variable 3 or less, becoming southerly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate near Sutherland and between Barra and Canna.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate near Sutherland, and also at first between Barra and Canna, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Thursday 08 Jan 2026 at 1800 UTC until Friday 09 Jan 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation
A complex area of low pressure will be slow moving between Shetland and Iceland.
Forecast
- Wind
- South or southeast 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 09 Jan until 1800 UTC on Friday 09 Jan
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
- Sea state
- Rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to gale 8, soon veering southwest to west severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 this evening, perhaps locally hurricane force 12 for a time, veering northwest 7 to gale 8 by dawn and decreasing 6 to 7 by midday Friday.
- Sea state
- Rather rough to rough, soon increasing very rough to high this evening, perhaps briefly very high in the northwest, then decreasing rough to very rough by midday Friday.
- Weather
- Rain, occasionally heavy with mist patches, clearing to squally rain or hail showers around midnight.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to 7, veering northwest to north 5 to 6 by evening and decreasing 4 to 5 by midday Saturday.
- Sea state
- Rough to very rough, decreasing rather rough to rough by midday Saturday.
- Weather
- Squally rain or hail showers, locally heavy at first.
- Visibility
- Good, 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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