Coast and sea
General situation
The United Kingdom will continue to lie in a very strong southwesterly airflow during Friday. Gales or severe gales will continue across northern areas for much of the day, before winds gradually ease. Another area of low pressure will move east across the south on Saturday bringing further rain and strong winds here.
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
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering northwesterly 5 to 7, then northerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- In north very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, but elsewhere moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first, perhaps wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, rough or very rough at first in north, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west, then north or northeast later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6, backing northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then northeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6, backing north or northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming west or northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary and the wash.
- Weather
- Fair then showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east and northeast.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south 5 to 7 for a time later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest veering northwest, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in far west, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- 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
- West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time at first, veering west 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in east and very rough until later in west.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, veering northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest 5 to 7, backing west 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northwest, 5 to 7, backing west 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 or 7, decreasing 5 or 6, then 3 or 4 for a time, veering north or northeast later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate, then slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northeast backing northwest, 5 to 7, backing west 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic later, then decreasing 3 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far north, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming north or northwest, 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later, then northerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly backing northwesterly, 4 to 6, then backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then north or northeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering north or northwest, then northeast later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high at first in far southwest, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near northern entrance, becoming slight or moderate in central areas.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northeast, veering south or southeast later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later in north.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering north or northwest, then northeast later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northeast, veering south or southeast later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering northwest 6 or 7, then north 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming mainly rough in lee shelter to the east of Shetland.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Friday 28 Nov 2025 at 1200 UTC until Saturday 29 Nov 2025 at 0000 UTC
General situation
Low pressure tracking east to the north of Shetland will bring severe gale southwest winds before clearing northeast Friday night to be replaced by a weaker, showery northerly flow on Saturday.
Forecast
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9 becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then northwest 6 or 7.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in west, becoming rough later in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or showers
- Visibility
- Moderate or Good, occasionally poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Saturday 29 Nov until 1200 UTC on Saturday 29 Nov
- Wind
- Northwest veering north 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but high at first in north and west
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6 mid-channel, backing southwest to south 5 to 7 overnight, perhaps occasionally 8 mid-channel after dawn tomorrow.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate in the southeast, with a low to moderate swell, otherwise rather rough to rough.
- Weather
- Isolated showers, mainly in the far north rain, locally heavy, arriving in the far west soon after midnight, spreading across the area later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate locally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South to southwest 5 to 7, perhaps briefly gale 8 mid-channel, veering west 5 to 6 by mid-afternoon, then northwest 4 to 5 overnight, decreasing 3 to 4 by midday Sunday.
- Sea state
- Rather rough to rough, gradually decreasing slight, with a low to moderate swell.
- Weather
- Rain, locally heavy, clearing to scattered showers by dusk, perhaps with hail, dying out by dawn Sunday.
- Visibility
- Moderate locally poor, becoming good locally moderate.
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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