Coast and sea
General situation
Low pressure in northern North Sea moves southeastwards to the southern North Sea through Wednesday, bringing gales to many areas for a time. An intense low will reach the western English Channel later on Thursday, bringing a risk of storms.
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
- East becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and sleet.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast veering south or southwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain and sleet then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near Rattray Head, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and sleet.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good in south.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 or 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and sleet then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest veering west or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers becoming wintry.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth near Thames estuary, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time near North Foreland.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Mainly good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic gale 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate or poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later, then becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near the Isles of Scilly, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in the Bristol Channel.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later, perhaps violent storm 11 later, then northwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight at times in the Bristol Channel, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later near Lands End.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally 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, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near st david's head.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing west 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming north or northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate later in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north, becoming smooth in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- 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
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in the North Channel, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth at times in the Firth of Clyde, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming slight later in shelter.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in shelter.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances.
- Weather
- Wintry showers then occasional rain or sleet.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers then occasional rain or sleet.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in shelter.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Wednesday 07 Jan 2026 at 0600 UTC until Wednesday 07 Jan 2026 at 1800 UTC
General situation
Low pressure over Scotland slowly clears east into the North Sea through Wednesday. New low pressure system developing near Faeroes extends an Atlantic trough across Shetland Waters through Thursday.
Forecast
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or sleet in southwest at first. Otherwise mainly fair, a few snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor or very poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Wednesday 07 Jan until 0600 UTC on Thursday 08 Jan
- Wind
- East or southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, a few snow showers in southwest. Occasional rain or sleet in southwest later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor or very poor in southwest.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 6 with gusts to 35kt, backing west to southwest 4 to 5 late afternoon, veering northwest 5 to 6 during the evening, decreasing 3 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate in the southeast, rather rough occasionally rough in the northwest.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle moving into the west from dusk.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West to northwest 3 to 4, locally variable 1 to 3, becoming south to southwest 4 to 5 by midday, veering southwest 7 to gale 8 by dusk, then west severe gale 9 to storm 10 with gusts to 70kt by mid-evening, locally violent storm 11 with gusts to 80kt, veering northwest 7 to gale 8 by dawn.
- Sea state
- Moderate to rather rough, decreasing slight for a time, increasing rather rough to rough by dusk, then very rough to high overnight.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle, perhaps heavy at times with mist, clearing to squally showers with hail overnight.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to 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.
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.