Coast and sea
General situation
A southwesterly flow across the British Isles will bring strong winds to some areas and a risk of gales to some central and southern parts. Atlantic fronts will move east bringing rain or showers to all areas at times. A deepening low will then move east across central areas on Sunday bringing further wet and often windy weather.
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)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 2 to 4, backing east 3 to 5, then northeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight until later except to the north and west of Orkney, otherwise mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south and later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5, backing northeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 to 7, veering west or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate until later.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally 5 later in north.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south and east.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly 5 to 7, veering southwesterly 4 or 5 for a time at first, then veering southwesterly 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 or 5 later in west.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly 6 to gale 8 at first in east, otherwise westerly backing southwesterly, 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, veering westerly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest, backing southwest for a time at first, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- 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
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, then veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 in west and later in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then very rough later in far west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Rain at first, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering north or northwest 3 to 5, then backing west or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, then smooth or slight later in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 6 or 7, then north or northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later near St Davids Head.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 2 to 4, backing south or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic mainly west, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, veering west 5 or 6, veering north later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, decreasing 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight in south.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic mainly westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or 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 or southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first near Mull of Galloway, decreasing 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in northeast.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then northerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate near Mull of Kintyre, otherwise smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in North Channel.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4, backing south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast, veering north or northeast later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest, backing southeast later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in central areas.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 3 to 5, backing east, then northeast later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight until later in central areas, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest, backing southeast later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first to the west of the Outer Hebrides.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 3 to 5, backing east, then northeast later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shetland Isles (18)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in north and west, otherwise moderate, occasionally slight in lee shelter east of Shetland.
- Weather
- 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 Saturday 22 Nov 2025 at 0000 UTC until Saturday 22 Nov 2025 at 1200 UTC
General situation
Showery southwesterly flow covers Shetland Waters.
Forecast
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far northwest at first
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Saturday 22 Nov until 0000 UTC on Sunday 23 Nov
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, backing northwesterly later in west
- Sea state
- Moderate, but slight in lee shelter east of shetland
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Moderate or good
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 4, increasing and 6 to gale 8 by midday, perhaps with gusts to 50kt, veering westerly 4 to 5 by mid-evening, decreasing 3 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth locally slight, increasing moderate to rough by midday, decreasing slight to moderate in the evening.
- Weather
- Rain from dawn, locally heavy, becoming confined to the far east by dusk.
- Visibility
- Very good, becoming moderate to good by dawn, perhaps locally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 4, backing southwesterly 5 to 6 by mid-morning, veering west to northwest by midday, perhaps briefly 7 mid-channel, then generally increasing 6 to 7 late evening.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, increasing rather rough to rough by midday.
- Weather
- Showers, some heavy, becoming isolated for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, locally moderate or 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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