Coast and sea
General situation
A cold northerly flow with wintry showers will weaken as a transient ridge of high pressure moves east across the British Isles bringing a brief spell of quieter weather. This will then be followed by a strengthening southwesterly flow on Friday as an Atlantic front moves into more western and northwestern waters, this then moving southeastwards into Saturday.
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
- North or northeast backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming moderate in south.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, then veering west later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first to the north and west of Orkney, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6, veering west 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in Firth of Forth, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 6 or 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, backing northwest, then west later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first and slight later.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly 5 to 7 for a time, decreasing 3 at times later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east.
- Weather
- Showers, squally for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in east.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, backing northwesterly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers in east, squally for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 2 to 4, backing southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth near shore.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 2 or 3, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Rain 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
- North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in east, otherwise in west, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel and rough at first in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers in west, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in north and later in south.
- Weather
- Showers, squally and wintry at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, then veering west 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first in south and west.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 6 to gale 8, then veering west or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3, then backing west or southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7, veering west 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate occasionally rough for a time.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 2 to 4, then southwest 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- 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
- Northerly 5 or 6, becoming variable 3 or less, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in North Channel, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first in west, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Mull of Galloway.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time in east, becoming rough later in northwest.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 in northwest, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in sheltered east, otherwise moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight until later in south, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough near northern entrance and later in far southwest.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest, veering west or northwest for a time, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming smooth or slight later in central areas.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate until later in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest, veering west or northwest for a time, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, backing west 3 to 5, then southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Thursday 20 Nov 2025 at 1800 UTC until Friday 21 Nov 2025 at 0600 UTC
General situation
Cold, showery, northerly airstream passing overnight as a ridge builds from the west. Ridge declining later Friday as Atlantic troughs reach your area.
Forecast
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, backing west 3 to 5
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 21 Nov until 1800 UTC on Friday 21 Nov
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then rain later
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate later
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly 5 to 6, veering north to northeast 4 to 5 by Friday morning, decreasing 3 to 4 by dusk.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, decreasing smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or hail showers, dying out by midday Friday.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, locally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North to northeast 3 to 4, becoming variable 1 to 3 by midnight, then southwest 4 to 5 by dawn Saturday, backing south 6 to 7 by midday.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, increasing slight to moderate, and locally rather rough to rough in the northwest later.
- Weather
- Rain by Saturday morning.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, locally moderate or perhaps 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.
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.