Coast and sea
General situation
High pressure to the far southwest of the United Kingdom will continue to bring light winds to southern waters, with occasional rain or drizzle for most, however a cold front will move southeast across much of the United Kingdom through Wednesday, with rain and strong winds for a time to central and northern waters, and gales to the far northwest. A transient ridge of high pressure will then follow early on Thursday, with a spell of more settled conditions.
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 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in northwest, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest, veering northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in east.
- Sea state
- To the north and west of Orkney, moderate or rough, in Moray Firth, smooth or slight, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, squally rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- To the north and west of Orkney, moderate or rough, in Moray Firth, smooth or slight, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic then northerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in far north.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, except in Firth of Forth.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, squally rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly 5 to 7, but 3 to 5 in west, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later except in Firth of Forth.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far north.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain later in north.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest veering north 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth later in south.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6, then veering north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches until later in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor until later in south.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming good later.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, but variable in east, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor n east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly, but variable at first in east, 2 to 4, veering northerly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, then fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 away from shore.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 or 4, veering north 4 or 5, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Rain then fair.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate at first.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth in lyme bay.
- Weather
- Mainly fair in east, occasional rain in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in far west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, veering north 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but smooth at first in lyme bay.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, then fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 3 to 5, veering north 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, then backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- 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
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 for a time in north, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in north, slight in south, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor at first.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6 later, then veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, squally rain later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5, veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, then northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but occasionally rough in far north and smooth in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, squally rain then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but occasionally rough in far north and smooth in far south.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
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 backing southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5, then 5 to 7 later, veering northwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in North Channel.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, squally rain then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, but moderate at times in the North Channel.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, then north or northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, squally rain then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, veering northerly, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in central areas, rough near entrances.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle then squally rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly 3 to 5, veering southeasterly 3 or 4, then southerly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but rough in far north and later in far south.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, veering northerly, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle then squally rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly 3 to 5, veering southeasterly 3 or 4, then southerly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, veering north or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first, but moderate occasionally slight in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Valid Tuesday 31 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC until Wednesday 01 Apr 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation
A mild southwesterly flow will cover Shetland Waters this evening. A cold front will then move southeast over the area on Wednesday morning.
Forecast
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering northwesterly 4 or 5 later in northwest
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate in sheltered eastern waters
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Wednesday 01 Apr until 1800 UTC on Wednesday 01 Apr
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7 at first in southeast, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6
- Sea state
- Mainly rough, but moderate in sheltered eastern waters
- Weather
- Rain then showers
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first
Channel Islands (19)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 4, locally 5 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight, with a low swell.
- Weather
- Patchy light rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Good, locally moderate or perhaps poor at times.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 4, veering north 5 overnight, perhaps locally 6 for a brief time towards dawn, decreasing 3 to 4 by midday, backing northwest 2 to 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, perhaps briefly moderate towards dawn, decreasing smooth Thursday afternoon, with a low swell throughout.
- Weather
- Patchy light rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Good, locally moderate or perhaps poor at times.
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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