Coast and sea
General situation
Strong winds affecting many northern and western waters, with a risk of gales for some coasts of Wales and southwest England, will slowly ease. A front over the north and west of the United Kingdom will only slowly edge southeastwards through Thursday and Friday bringing occasional rain, but with mainly fair conditions either side of this.
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, veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, decreasing 2 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough to north and west of Orkney, slight or moderate elsewhere, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 2 to 4, backing south or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Cape Wrath.
- Sea state
- To the north and west of Orkney, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later, but elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast 3 to 5, veering north or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 2 to 4, backing south or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near Rattray Head.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast 3 to 5, veering north or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, fog patches at first in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor but very poor at first in south.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 or 3, then southeast 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth in south, becoming moderate later in north.
- Weather
- Showers, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 or 5, becoming 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate at first and smooth later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly, becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, fog patches later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable becoming northerly or northeasterly, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable becoming northeasterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in east.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming northerly 4 or 5 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less at first in far east, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable, mainly southeasterly, 2 to 4 at first except in far west, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west, occasionally very rough near Isles of Scilly.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, decreasing 3 at times later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in lyme bay, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 except in far east, occasionally gale 8 until later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far east and rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Rain, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming north or northwest 5 to 7, veering northeast 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time, but becoming moderate or rough for a time in far southeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northeast 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southeast 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 2 or 3, veering north or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Rain, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then south 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north, becoming smooth or slight later in south.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in north, occasionally rough in far north.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in North Channel, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north, becoming smooth or slight later except near Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east, becoming rough or very rough in west.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 2 to 4, then south 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight just north and east of skye, slight or moderate elsewhere.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times except northeast of skye.
- Weather
- Rain later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 2 to 4, then south 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough except near Sutherland.
- Weather
- Rain later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 5 to 7, veering west 3 or 4, then backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in east.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Valid Thursday 05 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC until Friday 06 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC
General situation
Atlantic troughs crossing your area today, with a ridge following from the west into Friday.
Forecast
- Wind
- South 5 to 7, veering west 3 to 5 later
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first in northwest, but moderate in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Occasional rain, becoming fair later
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Friday 06 Mar until 1200 UTC on Friday 06 Mar
- Wind
- Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northwest
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Fair
- Visibility
- Good
Channel Islands (19)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 2 to 4, veering southwest to west late evening, becoming cyclonic 1 to 3 then north to northwest 3 to 4 in the west later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight with a low swell, increasing moderate in the west later.
- Weather
- Risk of showers until late evening rain and drizzle spreading northwest by dawn mist or fog patches at times from evening.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor at times.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North to northwest 3 to 5, variable 1 to 3 in the east at first, generally backing west to southwest later.
- Sea state
- Smooth to slight with a low swell, occasionally moderate in the west.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle mostly clearing overnight mist or fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good, locally 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.
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