Coast and sea
General situation
Low pressure in the North Sea will be slow-moving and gradually fill through Wednesday, bringing strong winds to many areas but gradually easing. A rapidly deepening low will reach the western English Channel later on Thursday, moving quickly east, bringing gales and a risk of storms for some southern waters.
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
- Mainly southeasterly 5 to 7 near Orkney, but elsewhere cyclonic mainly southeasterly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in south.
- Weather
- Occasional sleet or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7 at first near north Orkney, otherwise cyclonic mainly southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north and later in east.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5 near Rattray Head and at first near Berwick upon Tweed.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet, or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then east 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 or 6, decreasing 2 to 4, backing east or southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East 4 or 5, backing northeast 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 5 or 6, decreasing 2 to 4, backing easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northeast, becoming smooth or slight in south.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north and later in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough offshore.
- Weather
- Rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time at first and again later, then becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, then severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in west, perhaps hurricane force 12 at first in far west, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east, and very high at first in west, becoming moderate or rough occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, but increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Bristol Channel, becoming very rough later near Lands End.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in southwest, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough in east, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or sleet then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 4 to 6 for a time, becoming northeast 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later near St Davids Head.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northeast 6 to gale 8, backing northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in south, slight or moderate in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or sleet then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeast 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, but moderate at first in south.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northeast backing north, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Isle of Man (12)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable then northwest 3 or less, veering northeast 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 3 to 5 for a time, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate in far north, smooth or slight elsewhere.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly northeasterly, becoming northwesterly later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate near Mull of Kintyre, smooth or slight elsewhere.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, then west or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming mainly southwest later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Mainly smooth or slight in shelter near skye, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly south or southwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming mainly southwest later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly south or southwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight between barra and canna and near Sutherland.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly veering southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Wednesday 07 Jan 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 08 Jan 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation
A shallow low in the North Sea slowly clears east through Wednesday. A new low pressure system developing near the Faeroes extends an Atlantic trough across Shetland Waters through Thursday.
Forecast
- Wind
- East or southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Scattered wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 08 Jan until 1800 UTC on Thursday 08 Jan
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Scattered wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to northwest 3 to 4, soon increasing 5 to 6, backing south 3 to 4 by mid-morning, then veering southwest 6 to 7 by dusk, locally gale 8 to severe gale 9 in the west of the area later.
- Sea state
- Moderate to rather rough, locally rough in the west, perhaps very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle, occasionally heavy after midnight.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest gale 8 to storm 10, locally violent storm 11 at first, veering northwest gale 8 to severe gale 9 by midnight, decreasing 6 to 7 by dawn.
- Sea state
- Rather rough to rough, soon increasing very rough to high, decreasing rough later.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle, perhaps occasionally heavy with mist, clearing to squally showers with hail overnight.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to poor.
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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