Coast and sea
General situation
A cold front will move southeastwards across the United Kingdom during Monday night and Tuesday, but it will become slow-moving near the far southeast of England during Tuesday night and Wednesday.
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
- West or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in north, slight or moderate in south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 5 or 6 backing southwest 4 or 5, then south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough until later to the west and north of Orkney, otherwise mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate in north, slight or moderate in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest, backing south later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time in south.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6 backing southwest 3 or 4, then south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate in north.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 or 5, veering west 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth in south.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in north, backing southwesterly 2 to 4, then southerly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain then fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south, then veering northwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in south.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south.
- Weather
- Rain at times, but becoming mainly fair in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering northeasterly 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 for a time at first, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time at first, then becoming southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, veering north 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain, but becoming fair for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in west, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Rain, but becoming fair for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6 veering northwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 or 4 backing south or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6 veering west or northwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight throughout in far south, elsewhere moderate, but becoming slight except in far northwest.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest backing southwest, 3 to 5, then backing south 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south but becoming rough later in north.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6 veering west or northwest 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest backing south or southwest, 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in far north, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 or 5 backing south 5 to 7, veering southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north and also later in east.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor 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
- Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far north.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 4 or 5 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in far north and rough later near the Mull of Galloway.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate to the east of Islay and Jura.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 backing southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but occasionally slight to the east of Islay and Jura.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest backing southwest, 3 to 5, then veering west 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West backing south or southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west and south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest backing southwest, 3 to 5, then veering west 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough except near Sutherland and between Barra and Canna.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West backing south or southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later to the west of the Outer Hebrides.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6 becoming variable 3 or less, then west or northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Tuesday 13 Jan 2026 at 0000 UTC until Tuesday 13 Jan 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation
A developing low tracks northeast across the North Sea then southern Norwegian Sea during Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday.
Forecast
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 to 7 veering west or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally variable.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Tuesday 13 Jan until 0000 UTC on Wednesday 14 Jan
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South to southwest 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 by dawn, occasionally 6 mid-channel for a time tomorrow morning, decreasing 3 to 4 after midday.
- Sea state
- Smooth to slight, with a low swell, locally moderate in the north for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and drizzle spreading from the south, locally heavy with mist and fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good, occasionally or very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South to southwest 3 to 5, soon veering northeast 3 to 5 Jersey northwards, then generally southwest 5 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, locally moderate, with a low swell throughout.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and drizzle, locally heavy with mist and fog patches, clearing eastwards by dawn.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good, occasionally 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.
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.