Coast and sea
General situation
The United Kingdom will lie in a southwesterly airflow during the next day or two as a deep Atlantic low moves northeast close to north Scotland. Winds will strengthen to become gale or severe gale force in many northern and western areas, with storm force winds developing around some northern and western coasts of Scotland.
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 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in north, occasionally high later in north.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- In north, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, but elsewhere, moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except in far south, occasionally very rough later in north.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- In north, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, but in south, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary and the wash.
- Weather
- Rain, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later, then backing southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary and the wash.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south then slight later in east.
- Weather
- Rain until later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later to the west of the Lizard peninsula.
- Weather
- Rain at first, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first and gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough to the west of the Lizard peninsula, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, squally later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
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 in north and also later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later near St Davids Head.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south, becoming slight or moderate later in north.
- Weather
- Squally showers then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at first, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then northeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6, veering north 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in far north.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in far north, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except in far north.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
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 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale force 9 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near Mull of Kintyre, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally very rough, becoming very rough or high, then becoming very high in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest gale 8 to storm 10, veering northwest, then north later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high occasionally very high, becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 7 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high near southern entrance.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering north or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally very rough, becoming slight or moderate except in northeast.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 7 at times later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north, becoming high or very high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering north or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 5 or 6, veering southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later, occasionally very high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Thursday 27 Nov 2025 at 1200 UTC until Friday 28 Nov 2025 at 0000 UTC
General situation
Frontal troughs will move northeast over Shetland Waters on Thursday afternoon with a deep low approaching from the west in the evening.
Forecast
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6 veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later far southwest
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in west later.
- Weather
- Rain at times, then showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Friday 28 Nov until 1200 UTC on Friday 28 Nov
- Wind
- Southwest gale 8 to storm 10
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in the west
- Weather
- Squally showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6 in the north and west of the area, veering west 3 to 4 after midnight, backing southwest 4 to 5 locally 6 again by midday Friday.
- Sea state
- Slight in the far southeast, otherwise moderate to rather rough, increasing rough in the far northwest towards midday tomorrow.
- Weather
- Patchy drizzle today, then rain for a time overnight mist likely late night and early morning, perhaps with some fog patches in the far southeast.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor at times.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6 in the north and west of the area, perhaps briefly 7 mid-channel in the afternoon, decreasing 3 to 5 by midnight, increasing 6 to 7 by dawn Saturday.
- Sea state
- Moderate to rough, increasing very rough in the far northwest late morning Saturday.
- Weather
- Isolated showers in the afternoon and evening, then patchy rain after midnight, becoming widespread and locally heavy by late morning Saturday.
- Visibility
- Good, locally moderate or poor at times.
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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