Coast and Sea
Inshore waters and strong winds
General situation
The United Kingdom will lie in a mainly westerly or northwesterly airflow during Thursday, although strong winds will gradually ease during the next 24 hours as high pressure builds from the southwest.
Issued at: .
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 2 Jul 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 3 Jul 2026
Inshore waters and strong winds map
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in north, and also for a time near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney, but elsewhere slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time at first near Rattray Head but occasionally smooth in south.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 for a time in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first near Rattray Head, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering northwest 4 to 6, backing west 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in far north, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later, mainly in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later in north.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering northwesterly 4 or 5, but becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate near northern and eastern Norfolk, but elsewhere smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first near northeastern Norfolk, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 veering northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less then westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6 veering northwest 3 or 4, then north 2 or 3 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North 2 or 3 becoming variable 3 or less then southwest 4 or 5, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6 veering north or northwest 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate in west, but in east, slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming west or southwest 3 or 4, veering west or northwest later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate from the Lizard Peninsula westwards, but elsewhere smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 5 or 6 veering northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming west or southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming slight, then occasionally smooth later in north.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 6 or 7 decreasing 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5 backing southwest 4 to 6, but becoming variable 2 or 3 for a time at first in Liverpool Bay.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain for a time, mainly in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 or 6 decreasing 3 or 4, then backing west or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 or 4 backing south or southwest 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7 backing west 3 to 5, then southwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- In far north, rough becoming moderate, but elsewhere, slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate in far north, but elsewhere slight, occasionally smooth at first.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in northern North Channel, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly backing southerly, 3 to 5, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre and smooth in far north.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7 backing west 4 or 5, then southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far west and slight later in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable mainly south 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7 backing west 4 or 5, then backing southwest later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight just north and east of Skye.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north and 3 in south.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight just north and east of Skye.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7 backing west 4 or 5, then backing southwest later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north and 3 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in south, west and north.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Valid Thursday 02 Jul 2026 at 0600 UTC until Thursday 02 Jul 2026 at 1800 UTC
General situation
An area of low pressure lying over Shetland Waters on Thursday morning will clear east with a ridge developing later.
Forecast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 or 5 becoming northwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in the south.
- Weather
- Rain, occasionally heavy at first, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Thursday 02 Jul until 0600 UTC on Friday 03 Jul
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8 decreasing 5 or 6, then backing west 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but slight in shelter east of Shetland and occasionally very rough at first in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Channel Islands (19)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 5, veering northwest to north 3 to 4 around dusk, then northeast by dawn.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, with a low swell.
- Weather
- Patchy rain or drizzle, mist and a risk of fog patches, all clearing by late afternoon.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good, locally poor, perhaps locally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North to northeast 3 to 4, soon decreasing 2 to 3, locally 4 in the south of the area, backing northwest around dusk.
- Sea state
- Smooth or 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.
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.