Coast and sea
General situation
A transient ridge of high pressure will move slowly southeastwards across the United Kingdom during early Wednesday, bringing light breezes for a time. An Atlantic frontal system will follow from the west.
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 or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Cape Wrath and Rattray Head, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time to the west and north of Orkney and occasionally smooth in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough later, occasionally high later to the west of Orkney.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Firth of Forth, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 3 to 5 backing west or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary and the wash.
- Weather
- Rain for a time at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate until later in east, otherwise smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in west.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or 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 3 or less, becoming southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate throughout in west, but in east, smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough near the Isles of Scilly.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth until later in east.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate for a time, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- 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 3 or less becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later near northwestern Anglesey.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later except in Liverpool Bay.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, then mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale force 9 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until 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
- Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or southwesterly, 3 or 4 increasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough later near Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Smooth at first in shelter, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale force 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in shelter, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming occasionally rough in both north and south.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, then increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm force 10 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in north, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, then increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm force 10 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high or very high later in the west.
- Weather
- Rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Wednesday 26 Nov 2025 at 0000 UTC until Wednesday 26 Nov 2025 at 1200 UTC
General situation
Low to the northwest pushes a frontal trough east across the area on Wednesday morning.
Forecast
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 later in the north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough in the northwest, but slight east of shetland at first
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Wednesday 26 Nov until 0000 UTC on Thursday 27 Nov
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8 for a time, becoming 4 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, fair later
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 3 to 4, becoming variable 1 to 3 during the morning, then southwest 3 to 4 by mid-afternoon, increasing 4 to 5 soon after dusk, perhaps occasionally 6 mid-channel later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, with a low swell, locally moderate later.
- Weather
- Isolated showers, mainly in the south, clearing by dawn rain or drizzle spreading from the west later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West to southwest 4 to 5, increasing 5 to 6 by dusk.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, perhaps locally rather rough mid-channel later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally 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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