Coast and sea
General situation
The United Kingdom lies in an unsettled and chilly northwesterly airflow. Scattered showers will affect many coastlines. These will be squally and wintry in the north with gale force gusts at times. Overnight, a ridge of high pressure builds and winds ease, before a frontal system sweeps southeastwards, bringing spells of rain overnight Thursday into Friday.
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
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and east, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- To the west and north of Orkney, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later, elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times in north, perhaps gale 8 later in north.
- Sea state
- To the west and north of Orkney, rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Rain at times, squally wintry showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near Rattray Head, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in north, slight or moderate in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly backing southwesterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, then increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first offshore.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest, backing southwest, 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight later in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest backing southwest for a time, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later, but occasionally moderate at first west of the Lizard peninsula.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5, then backing west later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but very rough at first near Lands End, then occasionally slight later in the inner Bristol Channel.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West backing southwest, then veering northwest later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Lands End.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate, then smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest veering northwest later, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5, then backing southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering westerly later, 4 or 5, increasing 6 for a time in west.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 or 6 occasionally 7 at first, veering north or northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough at first, becoming slight.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers at first, then fair for a time, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5 occasionally 6 in the south for a time, veering west or northwest 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor until later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5, then backing west or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far north, becoming slight or moderate except in north.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest, veering west, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
- Weather
- Rain at times, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but rough at first in the North Channel, occasionally smooth in the Firth of Clyde.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest, veering west later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in the Firth of Clyde.
- Weather
- Rain at first, squally wintry showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, then backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest, veering west later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain at first, squally wintry showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly 3 to 5, then backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly 3 to 5, then backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming rough later, occasionally moderate later in far south.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in south, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering north 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later, then backing southwest later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Wednesday 25 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 26 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation
Deep low over Scandinavia filling during Thursday, as a ridge builds from the west.
Forecast
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, but moderate or rough in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 26 Mar until 1800 UTC on Thursday 26 Mar
- Wind
- North or northwest backing southwest later, 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest, but moderate or rough in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Showers wintry at first
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to northwest 6 to 7 with gusts to 45kt, veering northwest to north 5 to 6 by midnight, decreasing 4 to 5 by midday, locally 3 later.
- Sea state
- Rough to very rough, decreasing slight to moderate with a low swell by midday.
- Weather
- Isolated showers, locally heavy with a risk of hail, mainly at first.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, locally moderate or perhaps poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 4, soon decreasing 2 to 3, backing southwest 3 to 4 around dawn, increasing 4 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate, with a low swell at first.
- Weather
- Patchy rain and drizzle by dawn.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to 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.
Caution: The internet is not part of the Maritime Safety Information system and should never be relied upon as the only means to obtain the latest forecast and warning information. Access to the service may be interrupted or delayed from time to time, updates may also be delayed.
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