Coast and Sea
Inshore waters and strong winds
General situation
Strong or gale force westerly winds, with storms or severe gales at first in the northeast, will slowly ease overnight as storm boelo moves away. However another deep low will move in towards northwest Scotland on Monday and Tuesday bringing another wet and very windy spell to the inshore waters with a risk of further storm force winds in the northwest.
Issued at: .
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 25 Oct 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 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 gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 5 to 7, then backing southeast later, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- In Moray Firth, rough or very rough becoming slight or moderate, but elsewhere very rough or high becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain, showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast veering south or southwest, 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Moray Firth and very rough later elsewhere, becoming high later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 near Rattray Head, backing southwest 4 to 6, then southeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, then veering southwest, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 7 or gale 8, backing southwest 4 or 5, then south or southeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South veering southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 6 to gale 8, backing south or southwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 6 to gale 8, backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly backing southerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time, veering westerly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West backing south or southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West backing south or southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first and gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest veering west, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first and 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far east.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- 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
- West backing south or southeast, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, veering southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate far in north, occasionally very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Showers then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering west 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 6 to gale 8, backing south or southeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in south.
- Weather
- Squally showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south and very rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 or 5, then south or southeast 5 to 7 later, then veering south or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate for a time.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest, veering west or southwest later, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly backing southerly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far north and becoming slight at times elsewhere.
- Weather
- Squally showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly veering southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
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 backing southerly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight, but very rough at first near Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Squally showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly veering southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 south of arran.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Mull of Galloway.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 7 or gale 8, backing southwest 4 or 5, then south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest gale 8 to storm 10, then west 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high except in shelter.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, backing southwest 4 to 6, then south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near entrances, becoming mainly slight or moderate in central waters.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering southwest gale 8 to storm 10.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally slight, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, backing southwest 4 to 6, then south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering southwest gale 8 to storm 10.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, backing west 7 to severe gale 9, then south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time except in sheltered east, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Sunday 25 Oct 2026 at 1800 UTC until Monday 26 Oct 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation
A deep low (Storm Boelo) will track northeast over the East Shetland Basin on Sunday, and then move away north during Monday. A developing low will track northeast over the Atlantic during Monday.
Forecast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time, becoming west or northwest later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but high in the south and west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Monday 26 Oct until 1800 UTC on Monday 26 Oct
- Wind
- West or northwest backing south or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but high in the south and west at first, occasionally moderate in the east later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in the south and west.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to northwest 5 to 6, backing south to southwest 4 to 5, increasing 5 to 6 by dawn, occasionally 7 in the north of the area.
- Sea state
- Rather rough to rough, decreasing slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell by midnight, increasing rather rough to rough in the north and west of the area by midday.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle, with a risk of mist patches, spreading west after midnight.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South to southwest 5 to 7, veering west 5 to 6 towards dawn.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with a low swell in the south and east at first, otherwise rather rough to rough, perhaps locally very rough mid-channel for a time.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle, mainly after midnight, locally heavy and with a risk of mist patches clearing mid-morning, then isolated showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to 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.
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