Coast and Sea
Inshore waters and strong winds
General situation
The strong showery westerly flow currently affecting the United Kingdom will gradually ease as a weak ridge moves across from the west. However strong locally gale force southeasterly winds will develop across southwestern areas on Friday evening as an Atlantic low approaches southern Ireland.
Issued at: .
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 5 Jun 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 6 Jun 2026
Inshore waters 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, backing south or southeast 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere slight or moderate, but becoming moderate or rough for a time to the west and north of Orkney.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4 backing easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in north, and later also near Aberdeenshire, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in north, backing southerly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 2 to 4 backing southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6 decreasing 3 or 4, backing south or southeast 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 for a time, then veering southwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6 decreasing 3 or 4, backing south or southeast 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 for a time, then veering west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4 increasing 5 or 6, veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4 increasing 5 or 6, then veering southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate or rough, then occasionally very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6 backing southwest 4 or 5, then south 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 3 to 5 increasing 6 or 7, then veering southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, 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
- Westerly 4 to 6 backing southwesterly 3 to 5, then southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first to the west of Land's End, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming slight for a time in east.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 5 to 7 veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in west, but in east, moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6 backing westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, then southeasterly 5 or 6 later, occasionally 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west but becoming slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 5 to 7 veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 for a time in Bristol Channel, then decreasing 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming rough or very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or 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
- West or northwest 4 to 6 backing southwest 3 or 4, then south or southeast 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later near St David's Head.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in south.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 or 6 backing southwest 3 to 5, then backing south or southeast later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time, then veering west or northwest later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south and east.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West backing southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 for a time, then veering west or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 3 to 5, then south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in far north, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
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 4 to 6 backing southerly 3 to 5, then backing southeasterly later.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in North Channel and 3 in far north, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the north and east of Arran.
- Weather
- Rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 5 or 6 backing southwest 3 to 5, then backing southeast later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in south and west, then veering westerly or southwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but occasionally smooth just east and north of Skye.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 for a time in north, then veering southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first except just east and north of Skye, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in west and south, otherwise mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate near Sutherland.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 for a time in far north, then veering southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first except near Sutherland, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 3 or 4, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west and north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Friday 05 Jun 2026 at 0000 UTC until Friday 05 Jun 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation
Low pressure north of Faeroe fills as a transient ridge passes east across the UK Friday. A deep low then moves over Ireland Friday night.
Forecast
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 or 5 veering west or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in west.
- Weather
- Fog patches at first, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 05 Jun until 0000 UTC on Saturday 06 Jun
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but rough in west and later north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then mainly fair later
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 5 to 6, decreasing 4 to 5 by dawn, backing southwest 2 to 4 by midday, then southerly by dusk, increasing 4 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rather rough to rough, decreasing slight with a moderate swell by midday.
- Weather
- Isolated showers, then occasional rain from late afternoon Friday.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly 4 to 5, increasing 6 to 7 by dawn, veering southwest to west by mid-morning, veering west 5 to 6 by dusk, decreasing 4 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth to slight with a low swell, increasing rather rough to rough by midday, occasionally very rough mid-channel.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, locally heavy, clearing to isolated showers by midday.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, locally poor for a time.
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.