Coast and sea
General situation
A mainly southwesterly airflow will dominate over the next couple of days, bringing strong winds at times to many areas, especially in the northwest where there is a risk of gales.
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
- South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, increasing 7 at times later near Cape Wrath.
- Sea state
- To the west and north of Orkney, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight until later in Moray Firth, otherwise mainly moderate or rough, but rough or very rough to the west and north of Orkney.
- Weather
- Showers mainly in north, then occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly 4 to 6 veering southwesterly 3 or 4, then increasing 5 again later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in north.
- Weather
- Rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 to 6, becoming variable mainly southwest 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 or 4 increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south.
- Weather
- Rain at times, mainly later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 3 or 4 backing southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly, veering southwesterly later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near eastern Norfolk.
- Weather
- Rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering northwesterly for a time at first, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain then fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, then veering westerly later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, moderate throughout in west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 2 or 3 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 or 4 backing west 2 or 3, then southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west, veering northwesterly 3 to 5, backing westerly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West backing southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west, veering northwesterly 3 or 4, then backing westerly later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly backing southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later except in far east.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first near Land's End, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers then fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near St David's Head, becoming slight or moderate in north.
- Weather
- Rain for a time at first, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in Cardigan Bay, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in north, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Showers then fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming smooth or slight in south.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, increasing 6 to gale 8 later except in Liverpool Bay.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in south, becoming rough or very rough later except in far south.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later in north.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 6 or 7 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then fair.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5 increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Rain then mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
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 southwesterly 3 to 5 backing southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, then increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in North Channel, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5 backing southerly 4 to 6, then veering southwesterly again later and increasing 7 at times in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in east, mainly rough or very rough in west, but occasionally high later to the west of Tiree.
- Weather
- Rain then fair, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in east, very rough or high in west.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor later.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate just north and east of Skye, but elsewhere moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first just north and east of Skye and very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough near Sutherland, elsewhere rough or very rough, but becoming very rough or high to the west of the Outer Hebrides.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high to the west of the Outer Hebrides but rough or very rough further east.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 for a time, then occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Thursday 11 Dec 2025 at 1800 UTC until Friday 12 Dec 2025 at 0600 UTC
General situation
Complex lows in the northeast Atlantic maintaining a south to southwest flow across your area of operation.
Forecast
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but slight to moderate in lee shelter of Shetland
- Weather
- Occasional rain later
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 12 Dec until 1800 UTC on Friday 12 Dec
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far west, but slight to moderate in lee shelter of Shetland
- Weather
- Occasional rain
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South to southeast 4 to 5, perhaps 6 mid-channel at times, veering west to northwest 3 to 4 by midday.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with swell, locally rather rough mid-channel.
- Weather
- Some mist patches, risk of coastal fog rain after midnight, clearing later.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor at times.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West to northwest 3 to 4, becoming variable 1 to 3 by midnight, becoming south to southwest 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight with a moderate swell.
- Weather
- Risk of isolated showers at first, clearing later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
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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