Coast and sea
General situation
The United Kingdom will lie in a southwesterly airflow during the next couple of days. Winds will strengthen to become gale force in northern and western areas, with severe gale or storm force winds developing near northern and western coasts of Scotland on Thursday night and Friday morning.
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
- South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first near Cape Wrath, becoming variable 3 or 4, then south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6 increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 near Cape Wrath.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then becoming very rough or high later in north.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 4 at times in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 or 6 increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, increasing gale 8 at times later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames Estuary and The Wash.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames Estuary and The Wash.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time in east.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near North Foreland, then becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east, decreasing 3 at times later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, moderate throughout in west.
- Weather
- Rain at times, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 3 to 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 or 3 at first in Lyme Bay, otherwise southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming rough later near the Isles of Scilly.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, mainly moderate or rough in west, but becoming very rough later to the west of Land's End.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 4 or 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later near Pembrokeshire.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- 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
- Southerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in Liverpool Bay and rough later in north.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in Liverpool Bay, increasing gale 8 at times in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 5 to 7 veering southwest 4 to 6, then occasionally 7 again later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6 increasing 7 or gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 5 to 7 veering southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in far north.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later near the Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first and 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but slight in shelter.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly 5 to 7 veering southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high, then occasionally very high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, then becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time, then occasionally gale 8 again later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west and south.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8 increasing gale 8 to storm 10.
- Sea state
- Slight at first just north and east of Skye, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming very rough or high except just north and east of Skye.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, then becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time, then occasionally gale 8 again later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but occasionally slight at first near Sutherland and very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8 increasing gale 8 to storm 10.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high except near Sutherland.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8 veering northwest 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, but becoming fair for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Wednesday 26 Nov 2025 at 1200 UTC until Thursday 27 Nov 2025 at 0000 UTC
General situation
Frontal trough will move east across Shetland Waters on Wednesday afternoon. Further frontal trough will move east during Thursday.
Forecast
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 or 7, but gale 8 at first in the north, veering northwesterly 3 to 5, then backing southwesterly 2 or 3 later in southwest
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough
- Weather
- Rain then fair
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Thursday 27 Nov until 1200 UTC on Thursday 27 Nov
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4 backing easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, then veering southwesterly 5 or 6 later in south
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally good again later in south
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 soon becoming southwest 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 soon after dusk, occasionally 6 mid-channel overnight, veering southwest to west by morning.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, with a low swell, becoming slight to moderate, locally rather rough in the north and west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle spreading from the west from mid-afternoon, risk of coastal fog in the morning.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to very poor overnight.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest to south 5 to 6, locally 4 south of Jersey at first, veering southwest to west around midnight, decreasing 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5, locally 6 in the north by midday.
- Sea state
- Moderate to rather rough, locally slight in the south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, risk of coastal fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to 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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