Coast and sea
General situation
Complex areas of low pressure will lie close to the United Kingdom, bringing some rain or showers to most areas along with strong winds in places. Atlantic fronts will then progress eastwards on Saturday night and on Sunday with strong winds and gales developing, and outbreaks of rain which could turn to sleet or snow across some northern and eastern 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
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in east, occasionally high near east Orkney.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or sleet.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north and also later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough except in far southwest.
- Weather
- Fair then rain or sleet.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 5 or 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain, sleet and snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet then wintry showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain, sleet and snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly northerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first and slight later.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet then wintry showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly or southeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Fair then rain or sleet at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 or 7, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first then becoming slight at times.
- Weather
- Occasional rain until later in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly or southeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming mainly rough later.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, becoming variable, mainly southeast, 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly, 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in west, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in far west, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first in west, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming very rough later west of the Lizard peninsula.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest, 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first near Lands End, becoming variable 3 or less later, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south, becoming slight or moderate in Bristol Channel.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first near Lands End, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6, veering south or southwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east, becoming very rough at times in west.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6 at first in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough at first near St Davids Head, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable mainly southeast, 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except in far south.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, veering south or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight until later except in far north, otherwise mainly moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Rain at times, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate near Mull of Kintyre, but elsewhere smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in North Channel.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast veering south or southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east and very rough in far northwest.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first near skye, becoming rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
- Weather
- Rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough west of the Outer Hebrides.
- Weather
- Rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in shelter in north and very rough elsewhere.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Saturday 10 Jan 2026 at 0000 UTC until Saturday 10 Jan 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation
Slow-moving low pressure south of Iceland maintains strong southerly flow over Shetland Waters. Scandinavian high ridge extends west. New deep low approaches northwest of UK late Saturday.
Forecast
- Wind
- South or southeast 6 or 7
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, moderate just northwest of shetland
- Weather
- Wintry showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Saturday 10 Jan until 0000 UTC on Sunday 11 Jan
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later in north
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, moderate just northwest of shetland
- Weather
- Wintry showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 6, with gusts to 40kt possible at first, decreasing 4 to 5 by dawn, perhaps locally 6 until mid-morning, further decreasing 2 to 3 by dusk, becoming variable for a time in the evening, then south 3 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rather rough to rough, decreasing moderate with a moderate swell by midday, then smooth to slight with a low swell by dusk.
- Weather
- Isolated showers, with a slight risk of hail and thunder overnight, dying out by dusk.
- Visibility
- Good or very, perhaps locally moderate at times.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South to southeast 3 to 4, increasing 5 to 6 locally 7 by dawn, perhaps occasionally gale 8 mid-channel late morning, veering southwest 4 to 6 towards midnight.
- Sea state
- Smooth to slight with a low swell, gradually increasing moderate to rough by midday.
- Weather
- Patchy rain and drizzle from around dawn, heavy at times in the afternoon and evening mist and a risk of fog patches in the late afternoon and evening.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate to poor by midday, perhaps locally very poor later.
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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