Coast and sea
General situation
An area of high pressure will be dominant across the United Kingdom over the next couple of days, maintaining settled conditions with only light or moderate breezes in most areas. However, fronts will edge into the far northwest with fresh or strong winds across Shetland and northwest Scotland, and strengthening further from Saturday night as an area of low pressure moves northeast near Iceland.
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
- Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northwest, becoming variable, then mainly southeasterly later, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- To the west and north of Orkney, rough, becoming very rough at times, otherwise smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain at times in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 2 to 4, veering southwesterly, then westerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
- Sea state
- To the west and north of Orkney, rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later, but elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, mainly in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in north.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast, becoming variable for a time, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 2 to 4, veering south or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast, becoming variable for a time near Whitby, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 near Whitby.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 2 in north.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth in north.
- Weather
- Fog patches in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times in far west.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East 2 or 3, backing northeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming northeast 2 to 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times in west.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate near Lands End.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate near land's end, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less.
- Sea state
- Smooth, occasionally slight in south.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 in north.
- Sea state
- Smooth, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less.
- Sea state
- Smooth.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest, then veering northwest later, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Fog patches at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Isle of Man (12)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 2 or 3.
- Sea state
- Smooth.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 2 or 3, veering west 3 or 4, then northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In far north, slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, but elsewhere, smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 or 4, then veering north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeasterly 3 or 4 later in North Channel.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Fog patches for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 or 4, then veering northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in North Channel.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west, occasionally very rough later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly veering southwesterly, then northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, rough or very rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 3 or less for a time.
- Sea state
- Mainly smooth or slight near skye, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in central areas, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough at times near northern entrance.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, veering westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough to the west and north of the Outer Hebrides.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough between barra and canna, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first then decreasing 3 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in shelter to the east of Shetland, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Valid Friday 20 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC until Saturday 21 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation
Low to the far north maintaining the southwest flow. Weak Atlantic troughs reaching your area today.
Forecast
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in southeast
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west, but slight in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Saturday 21 Mar until 1800 UTC on Saturday 21 Mar
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west, but slight in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate
Channel Islands (19)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East to northeast 3 to 4, locally 5 at times.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Risk of mist or fog patches south of jersey by dawn, clearing around noon.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, with a low swell developing later.
- Weather
- Risk of mist or fog patches near french coast overnight.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good, perhaps locally poor or very 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.
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