Coast and Sea
Inshore waters and strong winds
General situation
A cold front will clear eastwards this morning, giving way to a strong westerly flow, with gales and squally showers for northern waters. A brief ridge of high pressure will build for a time on Wednesday across southern areas, whilst severe gales or storm force southwesterly winds develop for a time across northwest Scotland, along with further rain.
Issued at: .
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 13 Oct 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 14 Oct 2026
Inshore waters and strong winds map
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times mainly in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Squally showers, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 in far northwest, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough, but rough or very rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly or southwesterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 mainly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in south and rough in north.
- Weather
- Squally showers, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough later in north, slight or moderate in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southerly 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Squally showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 3 or 4 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south.
- Weather
- Rain at first in east, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in far east, decreasing 3 or 4, then backing southwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at first in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later in west.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, otherwise moderate, but rough in far west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, otherwise moderate, but rough in far west.
- Weather
- Drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4, then south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near St Davids Head.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, drizzle later in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later in south.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, backing southwesterly 3 to 5, then southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming moderate, but becoming slight or moderate in north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest, veering northwesterly 3 to 5 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first, perhaps thundery in far north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in north.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest, occasionally 7 at first, backing southwest 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Isolated showers.
- Visibility
- Mainly good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later .
- Weather
- Fair, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southwesterly 4 or 5, then southerly 6 or 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north, becoming moderate occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Thundery showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first, then later in northwest.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in east and south.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally poor, becoming good occasionally moderate 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 or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southwesterly 4 or 5, then southerly 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Thundery showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later in the North Channel.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then southerly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in sheltered east, becoming rough or very rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Thundery showers at first, then mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times in northwest, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in sheltered east, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high at first west of Tiree.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming good occasionally moderate later.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 5 to 7, then south or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate until later in central areas, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later near entrances.
- Weather
- Thundery showers at first, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, decreasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally very rough, becoming slight or moderate later except near entrances.
- Weather
- Rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good occasionally poor later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 5 to 7, then south or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later in west.
- Weather
- Thundery showers at first, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, decreasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high until later in west, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good occasionally poor later.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest, backing south later, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in sheltered northeast until later.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Tuesday 13 Oct 2026 at 1200 UTC until Wednesday 14 Oct 2026 at 0000 UTC
General situation
A low to the north of Shetland moves away northwards on Tuesday. A deep low then moves northeast towards Iceland on Wednesday.
Forecast
- Wind
- Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate just east of shetland
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Wednesday 14 Oct until 1200 UTC on Wednesday 14 Oct
- Wind
- West backing south 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate at first just east of shetland
- Weather
- Showers, rain later
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to northwest 4 to 5, perhaps 6 in the north of the area at first, decreasing 2 to 3 after dusk, backing southwest to south later.
- Sea state
- Moderate to rather rough, locally rough mid-channel at first, decreasing smooth to slight with a low swell by midnight.
- Weather
- Risk of mist or fog patches developing overnight.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South to southeast 3 to 4, veering south to southwest 4 to 5 Wednesday evening.
- Sea state
- Smooth to slight with a low to moderate swell throughout.
- Weather
- Risk of mist or fog patches developing overnight.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.
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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