Coast and sea
General situation
A ridge of high pressure across the inshore waters will bring light or moderate winds and mainly fair conditions for most areas on Thursday. However, rain and strong winds will move into some northern and western areas during the day, spreading southeastwards overnight into Friday, followed by showers which will be wintry in the north.
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
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly, then veering westerly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and later in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except in Moray Firth, occasionally very rough later near north Orkney.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Orkney.
- Weather
- Rain then wintry showers, perhaps squally.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly, then veering westerly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
- Weather
- Squally showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming south, then veering west later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing south 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 3 or 4, veering south, then west or southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest, backing south later, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate until later.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, veering southerly, then southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic, then mainly southerly later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far east, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- 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 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair the occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight near shore.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 2 to 4 backing southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, but moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 2 to 4 backing southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Bristol Channel.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest, backing southwest for a time at first, 3 to 5, then backing south 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fair for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West, backing southeast later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 or 4 increasing 6 or 7, veering west or southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 or 5, backing southeast 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 4 or 5 increasing 6 or 7, veering west 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
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 4 or 5 increasing 6 or 7, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly, veering westerly later, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in south and gale 8 at first in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east, becoming very rough at times in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain at times, squally showers later, perhaps wintry.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly, backing southeasterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest and slight in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Showers, squally and perhaps wintry at times, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South becoming cyclonic, then west later, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times but occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough to the south and west of skye.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, squally wintry showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near southern entrance.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then west or northwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, squally wintry showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate between barra and canna and near Sutherland and very rough in far west.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 5 to 7, then cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Thursday 02 Apr 2026 at 1200 UTC until Friday 03 Apr 2026 at 0000 UTC
General situation
A transient ridge is replaced by an area of low pressure moving northeastwards over Scotland.
Forecast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, slight just east of shetland.
- Weather
- Fair, rain in west later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor later
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Friday 03 Apr until 1200 UTC on Friday 03 Apr
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, slight just east of shetland at first, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly 3 to 4, backing westerly by dusk, then southwest 4 to 5 overnight, locally 6 for a time around dawn.
- Sea state
- Smooth to slight with a low swell, increasing moderate to rather rough overnight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, drizzle and mist patches from around midnight.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, decreasing moderate locally poor overnight.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6, veering west towards dusk, backing southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate to rather rough, decreasing slight to moderate with a low swell.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, drizzle and mist patches on Friday risk of isolated showers on Saturday.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good on Friday, perhaps locally poor, generally good on Saturday.
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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