Coast and sea
General situation
Low pressure, moving eastwards into the North Sea, will bring rain and strong to gale force winds to most waters by Tuesday evening. A cold and strong northwesterly flow with wintry showers will follow, extending to all areas by Wednesday. A ridge of high pressure will then move into the southwest on Thursday morning, bringing more settled conditions here for a time.
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
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in north, veering northwesterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in northeast.
- Sea state
- To the west and north of Orkney, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate, but slight in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Squally showers, wintry later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east and northeast, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- To the west and north of Orkney, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high for a time, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally but rough in east.
- Weather
- Squally, wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in far northeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northeast.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Squally showers, turning wintry.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 6 to gale 8, then northwest 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers, perhaps wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north and east.
- Weather
- Squally showers, perhaps wintry later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northwesterly 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then squally rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 or 7, decreasing 5 or 6, then 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then squally rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west, then northwest later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate,, becoming moderate or rough, then very rough or high in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then squally rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in far west, becoming slight or moderate later in east.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- 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
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in southwest and moderate in Bristol Channel.
- Weather
- Drizzle, then squally rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate at first in Bristol Channel, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- 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
- Southwest veering west, 6 to gale 8, then northwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
- Weather
- Squally rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, then 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain clearing to showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 or 7,decreasing 4 or 5 then 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Showers becoming mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but rough or very rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 3 to 5 then backing southwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but rough or very rough at first in north, becoming slight or moderate later in south.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers at first, rain later.
- 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
- Southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in North Channel.
- Weather
- Rain, squally wintry showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in North Channel, decreasing 3 to 5, then backing southwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but rough at first in North Channel, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers until later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor until later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest veering northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west and moderate in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Rain then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5, backing south later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers, squally and wintry at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far north and later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in central areas, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough near entrances.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, wintry later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, then decreasing 3 or 4 in south, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in central areas, rough or very rough near entrances.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far north and later in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, wintry later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, then decreasing 3 or 4 in south, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, but moderate or rough in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Squally showers, wintry later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Tuesday 24 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC until Wednesday 25 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC
General situation
Showery strong to gale force southwesterly flow will veer northwesterly later in the day.
Forecast
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering west or northwest 6 or 7
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, but very high at first in west. moderate or rough east of shetland.
- Weather
- Squally showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Wednesday 25 Mar until 1200 UTC on Wednesday 25 Mar
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8
- Sea state
- Very rough or high but moderate or rough in lee shelter of shetland.
- Weather
- Wintry showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 5 increasing and 6 to 7 by evening, then veering west to northwest 7 to gale 8 by midnight.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with a low swell, increasing rather rough to rough by evening, and rough to very rough after midnight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain from late evening, clearing to squally showers by dawn.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to 7, perhaps locally gale 8 at first, veering northwest to north 4 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough to very rough, decreasing moderate to rather rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, locally heavy with a risk of hail, becoming isolated.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally 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.
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