Coast and Sea
Inshore waters and strong winds
General situation
Low pressure centred in the North Sea, and its associated strong and showery northwesterly flow, will gradually ease away northeastwards, allowing a ridge of high pressure to move in from the southwest. Later on Sunday and into Monday, the next Atlantic frontal system will bring more rain and a strong southwesterly flow to all parts.
Issued at: .
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 10 Oct 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Oct 2026
Inshore waters and strong winds map
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 or 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but rough or very rough in far northwest until later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far northwest.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south, veering northwesterly 4 to 6, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near both Rattray Head and Berwick.
- Weather
- Showers, mainly in north.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers at first in north, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first offshore.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 or 3, becoming southeast 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first offshore in north.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West backing south 3 or 4, occasionally 2 at first, backing southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far northeast.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly backing southerly 2 to 4, then increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 4 or 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5, then veering southwesterly 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair at first, then showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 1 to 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 1 to 3, becoming south 4 or 5, then veering southwest 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Fair at first, then showers, rain or drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing south or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but rough at first in far west.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 4 or 5, veering southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing south later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering southwest later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing south 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 3 or 4, backing southeast 5 or 6, then veering south or southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair at first, then rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing southwest 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 2 to 4, backing southeast 5 or 6, then veering south 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair at first, then occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 or 6, backing south or southwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 3 or 4, backing southeast 5 to 7, then veering south 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, then backing south 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far north, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 3 or 4, backing southeast 5 or 6, then veering south 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair at first, then occasional rain or drizzle.
- 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
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, then backing south 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 3 or 4, backing southeast 5 or 6, then veering south 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair at first, then occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, then backing south 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally slight later in shelter.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 3 or 4, backing southeast 5 to 7, then veering south 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Tiree.
- Weather
- Fair at first, then occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 to 7, then veering southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain or drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 to 7, then veering southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain or drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Shetland Isles (18)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 2 or 3, backing northwest 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Valid Saturday 10 Oct 2026 at 1200 UTC until Sunday 11 Oct 2026 at 0000 UTC
General situation
Low to the east gradually tracking northeast.
Forecast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4 becoming north or northwest 4 or 5
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Moderate or good
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Sunday 11 Oct until 1200 UTC on Sunday 11 Oct
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 to 5
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to northwest 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6 at first, decreasing 3 to 4 during the evening, backing west to southwest by dawn tomorrow.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, decreasing smooth to slight overnight, with a low swell throughout.
- Weather
- Isolated showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South to southwest 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 by late afternoon Sunday, then 5 to 6 during the evening.
- Sea state
- Smooth to slight with a low swell, increasing slight to moderate by midnight, occasionally rather rough mid-channel after dawn.
- Weather
- Isolated showers dying out, occasional rain or drizzle from around dusk and the risk of mist or fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor or very poor.
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.
Caution: The internet is not part of the Maritime Safety Information system and should never be relied upon as the only means to obtain the latest forecast and warning information. Access to the service may be interrupted or delayed from time to time, updates may also be delayed.
Please refer to GMDSS services, INMARSAT SafetyNET or international NAVTEX for the latest information. When using these web pages, always check that the page on your screen is not from your cache. Use the Refresh or Reload button if in any doubt.