Coast and sea
General situation
High pressure towards the southeast of the United Kingdom will bring mostly settled conditions and light winds here at first, however a strong to gale south or southwest flow with rain or showers will continue elsewhere. Strong winds with gales at times and rain or showers will then extend southwards to all areas from Tuesday and it will turn colder, with wintry showers in the north by Wednesday.
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
- Southerly veering southwesterly, then westerly later , 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later in north, decreasing 4 or 5 later in south.
- Sea state
- To the west and north of Orkney, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough for a time later except in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, but 4 or 5 at first in south.
- Sea state
- To the west and north of Orkney, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough for a time, but elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate for a time, but mainly slight in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Squally showers, becoming wintry.
- Visibility
- 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 until later, veering westerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in far north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except in Firth of Forth.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, veering west 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 3 or 4, veering southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest veering west or northwest, 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in north.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, perhaps wintry later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly 3 or 4, veering southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good in north, but moderate or poor becoming moderate or good in south.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, then northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly then northwesterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly then northwesterly later, 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in east, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly, then northwesterly later, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest veering west, then northwest later, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain then squally 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
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering northwesterly, 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally showers, perhaps wintry later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, veering west or northwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers, perhaps wintry later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6 increasing 6 or 7, veering west 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough for a time.
- Weather
- Fair at first, then spells of rain.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 5 or 6 increasing 7 or gale 8, veering northwest 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly veering southwesterly, then westerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north, becoming very rough or high later in north.
- Weather
- Squally showers, becoming wintry.
- 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
- Southerly veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but smooth to the north of isle of arran.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough in North Channel.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers, becoming wintry.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough but moderate in sheltered east, becoming very rough or high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering north 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate in sheltered east and occasionally high in west.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in central areas, rough or very rough elsewhere, becoming very rough or high later near Cape Wrath.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in central areas, rough or very rough elsewhere and very rough or high at first near Cape Wrath and later near entrances.
- Weather
- Squally showers, becoming wintry.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally showers, becoming wintry.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South veering southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate at first in sheltered east, becoming very rough or high except in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Monday 23 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC until Tuesday 24 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation
Gale force southwesterly flow will become established as a deep Atlantic depression tracks northeast between Faroes and Iceland.
Forecast
- Wind
- South veering southwest 7 to severe gale 9
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate east of shetland at first. becoming high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain then showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Tuesday 24 Mar until 1800 UTC on Tuesday 24 Mar
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high in west. rough just east of shetland.
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 1 to 2 in the south of the area, southwest 2 to 3 in the north of the area, generally becoming west to southwest 3 to 4 by dawn, increasing 4 to 6 by mid-afternoon, locally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth, locally slight, with a low swell.
- Weather
- Risk of mist patches in the morning.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor in the morning.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in the north of the area, generally veering northwest 6 to 7 overnight, occasionally gale 8 around dawn.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, increasing rather rough to rough by evening, locally moderate in the southeast, then rough to very rough overnight.
- Weather
- Band of rain crossing the area southeastwards around midnight, clearing to squally showers by the early hours, perhaps heavy with hail later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, locally 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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