Coast and Sea

Inshore waters and strong winds


General situation

Much of the United Kingdom will be covered by a light or moderate airflow before northeasterly winds strengthen across many southern inshore waters. Strong winds will also return to northern Scotland by Sunday afternoon.

Issued at: .

For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 9 May 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 10 May 2026

Inshore waters and strong winds map


Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
West or northwest 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later, then becoming north later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight at first in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, rain for a time.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly, backing northwesterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in far south.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather
Fair then showers, rain at first in far south.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first in far south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Westerly, veering northwesterly, 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in north.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather
Showers, wintry later, rain for a time.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6, then backing north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at first, fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
North or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first near Whitby, backing west 4 to 6 later, then veering northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Variable 3 or less, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers for a time.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Gibraltar Point, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Whitby.
Weather
Rain or showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Variable 3 or less, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near North Foreland, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather
Showers for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate in far south.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northeasterly 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather
Showers later.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing northerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east.
Weather
Rain or showers then fair.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
East 3 to 5, backing northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather
Showers later.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather
Rain or showers then fair.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Easterly, backing northeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far west.
Weather
Fair then showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather
Rain or showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 for a time in the Bristol Channel, otherwise northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in west.
Sea state
Smooth for a time in the Bristol Channel, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far west.
Weather
Showers for a time.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far west.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but 3 at first in Cardigan Bay, increasing 7 for a time near St Davids Head.
Sea state
Smooth at first in Cardigan Bay, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time near St Davids Head.
Weather
Showers for a time.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north.
Weather
Rain or showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northerly, veering northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in east, veering easterly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far southwest.
Weather
Rain or showers for a time.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4, backing northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Isle of Man (12)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in west, veering northeasterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northeast 3 or 4, backing northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
North or northeast 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
North or northeast 2 to 4, backing northwest 3 to 5, then veering north later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later except in far south.
Weather
Rain or showers for a time.
Visibility
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
Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in the Firth of Clyde.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, backing northwesterly 3 to 5, then veering northerly later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in the North Channel.
Weather
Rain or showers for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
North 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
North or northwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in sheltered east.
Weather
Rain or showers for a time.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

The Minch (16)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
North, backing northwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, but in north moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
North or northwest 2 to 4, backing west 4 to 6, then veering north or northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Smooth at first in southern and central waters, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northeast.
Weather
Wintry showers, rain for a time.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
North, backing northwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
North or northwest 2 to 4, backing west 4 to 6, then veering north or northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, rain for a time.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles (18)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
West, veering northwest, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
In sheltered east, slight occasionally smooth, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northwest.
Weather
Showers, wintry later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)

Strong wind warning

Valid Saturday 09 May 2026 at 0600 UTC until Saturday 09 May 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation

Showery northwesterly flow covers Shetland Waters

Forecast

Wind
West veering northwest 4 to 6
Sea state
Rough, but very rough in north. moderate in southeast, and slight just east of shetland
Weather
Showers
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Saturday 09 May until 0600 UTC on Sunday 10 May

Wind
Northwest 4 or 5
Sea state
Rough, but moderate southeast of shetland, and slight in lee shelter just east of shetland
Weather
Showers
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate

Channel Islands (19)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
East to northeast 3 to 4, locally 5 at times, increasing 4 to 5 around midnight, then 5 to 6 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, increasing slight to moderate after midnight, then moderate to rather rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, spreading north.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Northeast 5 to 6 with gusts to 35kt, occasionally 7, backing north to northeast 4 to 5 after midnight.
Sea state
Moderate to rather rough, locally rough in the north, generally decreasing slight to moderate later.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally 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.

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.

Please refer to GMDSS services, INMARSAT SafetyNET or international NAVTEX for the latest information. When using these web pages, always check that the page on your screen is not from your cache. Use the Refresh or Reload button if in any doubt.