Coast and sea
General situation
An area of low pressure will move eastwards across the English Channel and northern France during the next 24 hours and another area of low pressure will move eastwards towards western Scotland during Thursday. As a consequence conditions will remain unsettled across the inshore waters.
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
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Fair at first in east, otherwise rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast mainly 5 or 6, but 3 to 5 in Firth of Forth.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north and 3 in Firth of Forth.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Firth of Forth.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough.
- Weather
- Rain later in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later in south.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 4 or 5 veering southwest 3 or 4, backing south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 4 or 5 veering west 2 to 4, backing south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time, backing easterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7 decreasing 3 to 5, then becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East or southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then north or northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate for a time.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6 backing west or northwest 3 to 5, then southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or 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
- Easterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 then northwesterly 4 to 6, but increasing 7 or gale 8 in far west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far west, then backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in northwest, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 later, then increasing 6 or 7 later near western Cornwall.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, mainly moderate or rough in west, but becoming rough or very rough later near Cornwall.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near Cornwall, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally slight in far east.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8 backing east 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4 becoming west 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8 backing east or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west and smooth later in east.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East or northeast becoming variable, 3 or less, then becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later, occasionally rough later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East or southeast 7 or gale 8 decreasing 5 or 6, then 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East or southeast 2 or 3 veering west 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6, then 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East or southeast 2 to 4 veering west or southwest 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or 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
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in North Channel, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough until later in North Channel, otherwise slight, but occasionally smooth later in far north.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4 veering westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in south and west, decreasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west and slight in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6 veering west or southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time in west and slight in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south and west, veering southerly 3 or 4 later in east and north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west and south and smooth in east.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in north, veering southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east and rough in west and south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in south, veering southerly 3 or 4 later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in far south, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in north, veering southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 2 to 4 increasing 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Wednesday 18 Feb 2026 at 1200 UTC until Thursday 19 Feb 2026 at 0000 UTC
General situation
Ridge of high pressure declines as low pressure over the west of Scotland begins to extend over Shetland waters on Thursday.
Forecast
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough, but moderate in the lee of Shetland.
- Weather
- Wintry showers dying out.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Thursday 19 Feb until 1200 UTC on Thursday 19 Feb
- Wind
- Southerly 4 to 6, perhaps 7 later in the southeast
- Sea state
- Rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, but rain later in far west.
- Visibility
- Good.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South to southeast 4 to 5, perhaps occasionally 6, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 for a time late evening, then northwest 5 to 7 after midnight.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with a low swell, increasing rather rough to rough after midnight, occasionally very rough in the west later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers locally heavy, occasional drizzle, mist or fog, mainly at first, a risk of thunderstorms at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, locally poor or very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 6, backing west 4 to 5 after midnight and southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rather rough to rough, occasionally very rough in the west at first, decreasing slight to moderate with a low swell later.
- Weather
- Risk of showers at first, mainly in the west of the area, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally 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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