Coast and sea
General situation
A deep area of low pressure near Iceland will bring strong winds to most coastlines today, with gales or severe gales at times across northern and northwestern waters. Spells of rain across the south will clear southeastwards this evening, with blustery showers elsewhere, which will be squally and wintry at times in the north.
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
- Southwesterly veering westerly later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times in north.
- Sea state
- In northwest, very rough or high, elsewhere, slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first near Cape Wrath, decreasing 4 or 5, then backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- In northwest, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later, elsewhere moderate or rough, but mainly slight in the Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first and increasing 7 at times later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first near Rattray Head, backing southwest 4 or 5, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest, backing southwest later, 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, veering west or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in the Thames estuary.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in the Thames estuary.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing southwesterly later 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest veering northwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing west 3 or 4, then increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near coast.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering northwesterly, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times in west.
- Sea state
- Mainly smooth or slight in lyme bay, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough west of the Lizard peninsula.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest backing west, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly smooth or slight in lyme bay, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough west of the Lizard peninsula.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough in southwest and later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, backing west 5 to 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest backing west, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, then backing southwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, backing west 4 or 5, then backing southwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Nortwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 or 6, backing west 4 or 5, backing southwest 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly veering northwesterly later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in far north, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, backing west 4 or 5, then backing southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in far north, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or 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 veering northwesterly later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time near the Mull of Kintyre.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough west of Mull of Kintyre, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in the North Channel.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, backing westerly 4 or 5, then backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough west of Mull of Kintyre, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in the North Channel.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 or 7, backing west 4 or 5, then backing west or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but very rough near entrances.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, decreasing 4 or 5, then backing westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but very rough near entrances.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough near Ardnamurchan Point, elsewhere high, becoming very high for a time.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, decreasing 4 or 5, then backing westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest veering west later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in sheltered east, elsewhere very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Friday 27 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC until Saturday 28 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC
General situation
Large deep low tracking northeast into the Norwegian Sea, maintaining a showery and strong, west to southwest flow across your area of operations.
Forecast
- Wind
- Southwest 6 or 7
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, but moderate or rough in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Showers, heavy at times with risk hail and thunder
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate or poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Saturday 28 Mar until 1200 UTC on Saturday 28 Mar
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, but moderate or rough in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Showers, heavy at times with risk hail and thunder
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate or poor
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to southwest 4 to 5, locally 3 in the south of the area at first, veering northwest overnight, perhaps locally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth in the far south at first, otherwise slight to moderate, becoming moderate to rather rough later.
- Weather
- Cloudy with occasional rain or drizzle and a risk of mist patches, clearing to isolated showers by midnight.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or perhaps poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North to northwest 5 to 6, decreasing 3 to 4 overnight, backing west 4 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate to rather rough, decreasing slight with a low swell overnight, increasing slight to moderate later.
- Weather
- Isolated showers, dying out by evening.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, locally moderate at first.
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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