Coast and sea
General situation
A showery westerly flow across all parts, with strong winds in places will become light or moderate for a time overnight into Friday as a ridge of high pressure moves east. Rain and strengthening southerly or southwesterly winds will then develop from the west from later on Friday, with gales across many western waters.
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 northwest 3 to 5 increasing 5 or 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- To the west and north of Orkney, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south and very rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest, backing southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast, veering south or southwest later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast, veering south or southwest later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6 increasing 6 or 7, veering southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time.
- Weather
- Rain or showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly, veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly veering westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast veering west or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 or 6 veering east or southeast 2 to 4, then south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough to the west of the Lizard peninsula, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 to 6 veering west or southwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate until later in east, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming very rough in far west, occasionally high later in far west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly veering westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east, becoming rough or very rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, squally 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
- West 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later near St Davids Head.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later east of Anglesey and rough later near St Davids Head.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first, becoming very rough later near St Davids Head.
- Weather
- Rain at times then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in south.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast veering southwest, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 5 or 6 decreasing 3 or 4, backing south or southeast 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight for a time, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering south or southwest 5 or 6, increasing 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 5 to 7 backing southwest 3 or 4, then southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough in far north, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
- Weather
- Squally showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 7 to severe gale 9, veering south or southwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
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 5 to 7 backing southwesterly 3 or 4, then southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Clyde and rough near the Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Squally showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 veering southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in Firth of Clyde and rough elsewhere.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 6 to gale 8 backing southwest 3 to 5, then southeast 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in sheltered east, but elsewhere rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast gale 8 to storm 10, veering south 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in east, otherwise rough or very rough elsewhere, occasionally high later west of Tiree.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7 backing southwesterly 3 to 5, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight just east and north of skye, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in southwest, veering southerly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in south and west, occasionally very rough near southern entrance.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7 backing southwesterly 3 to 5, then southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough near Sutherland.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in southwest, veering southerly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough near Sutherland, but elsewhere rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 to 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in east and very rough in north and west.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Thursday 09 Apr 2026 at 1800 UTC until Friday 10 Apr 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation
Cold front soon clearing east from Shetland Waters, leaving a showery westerly flow
Forecast
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, veering westerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in southwest
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate in lee shelter
- Weather
- Rain then showers
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate or poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 10 Apr until 1800 UTC on Friday 10 Apr
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in southwest, becoming variable 2 to 4
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate in lee shelter
- Weather
- Showers becoming fair
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate at first
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6, veering northeast to east 3 to 4 after midnight, then veering east to southeast 2 to 3 after dawn, increasing 4 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, decreasing smooth or slight by dawn, with a low swell throughout.
- Weather
- Fair or fine.
- Visibility
- Good or very good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East to southeast 4 to 5, veering southwest 3 to 4 after midnight, then veering west 5 to 6 after dawn.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight with a low swell, increasing slight to moderate by dawn, further increasing rather rough to rough by midday.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle after midnight, with mist or fog patches, clearing around dawn risk of showers later.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, occasionally moderate, 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.
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