Coast and Sea
Inshore waters and strong winds
General situation
The United Kingdom will continue to lie in an unseasonably cool and showery north to northwesterly airflow during the next 24 hours.
Issued at: .
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 15 May 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 16 May 2026
Inshore waters and strong winds map
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough until later in east, otherwise mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- In Moray Firth, slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight, but elsewhere, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far north, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in Firth of Forth, elsewhere mainly moderate or rough, but very rough at first near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly or southeasterly 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north and far south, becoming smooth or slight in Firth of Forth.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southeast 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in north and slight later in south, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 near northern and eastern Norfolk and 3 elsewhere, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time near northeast Norfolk but occasionally smooth elsewhere.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 in north, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight except near northeast Norfolk.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later in east.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less at first in east, otherwise northwesterly backing westerly 2 to 4, backing southwesterly 3 or 4 later, occasionally 5 later in east.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth until later.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 2 to 4, backing west or northwest 3 to 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest backing west, 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth until later.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, becoming variable 3 at times in east.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest backing southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 2 at first, veering west or northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly backing northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, decreasing 3 at times in east, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in east, but in west, moderate, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable mainly northwest backing west or southwest, 2 to 4, veering west or northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 2 to 4 backing southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in west, becoming variable 3 at times in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in south and west, smooth or slight in east and north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 or 4 backing west or southwest 2 or 3, backing south or southwest 3 to 5 later, then veering west again later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in north.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight or moderate, then slight later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest backing south or southwest, 3 or 4, veering west or southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 2 to 4 backing south or southwest 3 to 5, then veering west or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in far north.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 2 to 4 backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, then veering westerly later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in North Channel.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 2 or less then south or southeast 3 to 5, then veering west later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in south, mainly slight or moderate in north but occasionally rough in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming south or southeast 3 to 5, then becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in south, moderate or rough in north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming south or southeast 3 to 5, then becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in north and smooth or slight until later between Barra and Canna, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Valid Friday 15 May 2026 at 0000 UTC until Friday 15 May 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation
Deep low pressure over southern Scandinavia maintains a strong to gale force north or northwesterly airstream over Shetland waters.
Forecast
- Wind
- North or northwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 15 May until 0000 UTC on Saturday 16 May
- Wind
- North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough becoming rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Channel Islands (19)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 4 to 5, decreasing 3 to 4 around dawn, backing northwest 4 to 5 by late afternoon.
- Sea state
- Slight, with a low swell.
- Weather
- Isolated showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 5, backing west 3 to 4 soon after dawn, increasing 4 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, increasing moderate in the north and west later.
- Weather
- Isolated showers at first, occasional rain or drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor later.
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.