Coast and sea
General situation
A transient area of high pressure will move off into the North Sea overnight, but maintain a mainly fair south to southeasterly, or variable and light flow airflow during the next 24 hours. However there will be stronger southerly or southeasterly winds across northwestern areas, accompanied by patchy rain later.
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 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 in Moray Firth and later in northwest, increasing 6 or 7 for a time later in northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney and later in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Rain at times later in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 5 later near Cape Wrath.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney and at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate, but occasionally smooth in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 or 3 at times in Firth of Forth, but elsewhere south or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth until later in st andrews bay and Firth of Forth.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate, becoming slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth in the wash and Thames estuary.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first and 2 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate at first near northeastern Norfolk, smooth at times later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming slight or moderate in west.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 2 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first in the solent, increasing 6 at times elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East 3 to 5 at first in east, otherwise variable 3 or less.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times, then becoming variable 3 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough west of Lizard Point, occasionally very rough for a time near Isles of Scilly, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming northeast 2 or 3 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first west of Lizard Point, elsewhere slight or moderate, but occasionally smooth later in lyme bay.
- Weather
- Fog patches later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in west.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East or southeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less or later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in west, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time near st david's head, smooth at times east of Anglesey.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming southwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate until later in south, and smooth at times in north.
- Weather
- Fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time, but becoming variable 2 to 4 in south and Solway Firth.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth in south and Solway Firth.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in east, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 3 to 5, veering south 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in east and south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches later in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in south.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later in North Channel, becoming southerly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the north and east of arran.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, then southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate near the Mull of Kintyre, but elsewhere smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, mainly moderate or rough in west, but becoming very rough for a time near western Tiree.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west, occasionally very rough at first near Tiree, slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west and south, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 or 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight just east and north of skye, occasionally rough later in entrances.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west and south, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate near Sutherland and later between barra and canna.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 or 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Valid Tuesday 07 Apr 2026 at 0000 UTC until Tuesday 07 Apr 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation
Ridge of high pressure declining to the east as Atlantic fronts approach from the west.
Forecast
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest
- Weather
- Fair
- Visibility
- Good
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Tuesday 07 Apr until 0000 UTC on Wednesday 08 Apr
- Wind
- South or southeast 5 to 7
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in northwest
- Weather
- Rain in west
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate in west
Channel Islands (19)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East to southeast 3 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 1 to 3 Tuesday evening.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight with a low swell, locally moderate mid-channel at first.
- Weather
- Risk of mist patches later.
- Visibility
- Good or very good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 1 to 3, becoming northeast 2 to 3 by midday.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, with a low to moderate swell.
- Weather
- Mist or fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, locally poor or very poor.
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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