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.