Coast and sea
General situation
A ridge of high pressure moves east across the British Isles bringing a brief spell of quieter weather today, before a band of rain and strong southwesterly winds moves east over the UK later this evening and into tomorrow. An Atlantic low then moves east over Ireland on Sunday.
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 3 or 4, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near Cape Wrath, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest and smooth later in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 3 or 4, backing southwest 5 or 6, then south 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South veering northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest backing southwest, 4 or 5, then south 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 5 or 6, veering west 4 or 5, backing south 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 or 4, backing southwest 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Rain at first, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Thundery showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough in east.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 3 or less, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Thundery showers at first in east, otherwise fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, but moderate in west, then becoming moderate everywhere.
- Weather
- Showers at first in west, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest, backing southeast, 3 to 5, then veering west 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight later in east.
- Weather
- Rain at times, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel and rough later in west.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 5 to 7, veering northwest, backing south, 3 to 5, veering west 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel and rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain at times, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest, backing southeast, 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first and smooth later in northeast.
- Weather
- Rain at times, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 3 or 4, backing southeast 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 2 or 3, backing southwest and gradually increasing 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, building moderate, possibly moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain for a time later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 or 6, decreasing west 3 or 4, backing south 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, falling slight, building moderate again later.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 or 4, backing south 5 to 7, veering west 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 5 or 6, backing south 3 or 4, then southeast 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south and east.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally 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
- Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Smooth becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7, becoming cyclonic, then northwest later, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in southeast, becoming rough for a time in west.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 or 5, backing southwest 2 to 4, then southeast 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth south of skye, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 3 or 4, backing southeast 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth in central area.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 3 or 4, backing southeast 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 to 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first in south, becoming rough for a time except in east, becoming slight later in east.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Friday 21 Nov 2025 at 0600 UTC until Friday 21 Nov 2025 at 1800 UTC
General situation
A ridge passes east over Shetland waters Friday morning. Atlantic troughs follow from the west from Friday afternoon.
Forecast
- Wind
- West 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 to 7
- Sea state
- Moderate, later occasionally rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then rain later
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate later
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Friday 21 Nov until 0600 UTC on Saturday 22 Nov
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, veering westerly 4 to 6, later occasionally 3 in south
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Rain, mainly fair later
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North to northeast 4 to 5, decreasing 3 to 4 by mid-afternoon, becoming variable 1 to 3 by dusk, then southwest 3 to 4 by midnight, increasing 5 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, locally moderate in the northwest later.
- Weather
- Isolated showers until midday, mainly in the south risk of patchy light rain in the west later.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, locally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 6, backing south 6 to 7 by mid-morning, perhaps briefly gale f8 with gusts to 50kt, veering west 3 to 4 by midnight, increasing 5 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, locally rather rough to rough at times.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps heavy with some mist for a time.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, locally 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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