Coast and Sea
Inshore waters and strong winds
General situation
The United Kingdom currently lies in a showery northwesterly airflow. However winds will weaken and back generally westerly, as an Atlantic frontal system moves eastwards through Saturday. This will bring outbreaks of rain, followed by further rain or showers on Sunday.
Issued at: .
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 16 May 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 17 May 2026
Inshore waters and strong winds map
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in Moray Firth and later elsewhere.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable, becoming south or southwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later near Rattray Head.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough later west of Orkney.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Rattray Head, becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough at first near Rattray Head, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first in north and later in south.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first near Rattray Head, otherwise slight.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West becoming variable, then south or southwest later, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in north, otherwise moderate, occasionally slight in south.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in north, otherwise slight.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly, then becoming southwesterly later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth in the Thames estuary, otherwise slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable becoming westerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly veering northwesterly for a time, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 or 4, backing west or southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest, backing southwest for a time, 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near the Isles of Scilly.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 2 or 3, backing southwest 3 or 4, then veering west 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest backing south or southwest, 2 to 4, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming smooth at times.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West backing southwest, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers later, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Isle of Man (12)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest, backing south or southwest, 2 to 4, veering west 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Fair, rain or drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in at first in south, then becoming variable 3 or less later in north.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate in north and far south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming southerly 3 or 4 later, then veering westerly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate near the Mull of Kintyre and occasionally moderate later in the North Channel.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming south later, then veering west later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in west and slight in eastern shelter.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in central areas, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in south and rough at first in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 5 or 6, decreasing 2 to 4, then becoming variable later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Valid Saturday 16 May 2026 at 0000 UTC until Saturday 16 May 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation
The strong northerly flow will eases across Shetland Waters during Saturday.
Forecast
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Saturday 16 May until 0000 UTC on Sunday 17 May
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Channel Islands (19)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 5, backing west to southwest 3 to 4 by mid-morning, veering west to northwest 4 to 5 from around dusk.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight, increasing slight to moderate after dusk.
- Weather
- Rain or showers spreading east by dawn.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, locally moderate at times.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West to northwest 4 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, with a low swell.
- Weather
- Isolated showers, clearing by midday Sunday patchy rain later.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, locally moderate oat times.
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.