Coast and sea
General situation
An area of low pressure will clear away northeastwards from eastern England whilst another area of low pressure moving eastwards slowly approaches western parts. Further rain or showers are expected at times, with some heavy showers likely for more western 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)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly south, 3 or less, then south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first in Moray Firth, increasing 6 at times later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight until later in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Fair then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 4 or less, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth in south, becoming moderate at times later.
- Weather
- Showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth.
- Weather
- Fair then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 2 to 4, backing south or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest backing west, 4 to 6, then backing south or southeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate in north and smooth in south.
- Weather
- Fair then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate until later, becoming smooth or slight in Thames estuary and the wash.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 or 4, backing easterly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southeasterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first then decreasing 2 at times, backing easterly or northeasterly later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in east.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest backing south or southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 3 to 5, backing east or northeast 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight at times.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southeast 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far west, becoming slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- 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
- Southwesterly at first in west, otherwise southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east, becoming very rough at times near land's end.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough at first near Lands End.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west and smooth to the east of Anglesey.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight to the east of Anglesey, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near St Davids Head.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in north.
- Weather
- Showers, fog patches at first near shore.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor at first near shore.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight, becoming mainly moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Mainly smooth or slight in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in northeast.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate to the east of islay and jura, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times mainly at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near southern entrance, becoming smooth or slight to the east and north of skye.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly, veering southerly later in north, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times mainly at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first to the west of the Outer Hebrides, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate near Sutherland.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly, veering southerly later in north, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate near Sutherland, but elsewhere moderate, occasionally rough until later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shetland Isles (18)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then south 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate to the east of Shetland.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Friday 16 Jan 2026 at 0000 UTC until Friday 16 Jan 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation
A complex area of low pressure remains slow moving to the west of the UK. South or southwesterly flow will cover Shetland Waters.
Forecast
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4 later
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in northwest. moderate east of shetland
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 16 Jan until 0000 UTC on Saturday 17 Jan
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 4 or 5 later
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6 backing southerly by midday Friday.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell, locally rather rough in the northwest.
- Weather
- Isolated showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 4 to 5, backing south to southeast 3 to 4 Saturday morning, backing east to southeast 2 to 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell, decreasing smooth or slight with a low swell.
- Weather
- Isolated showers some mist or coastal fog Saturday morning.
- Visibility
- Good, locally poor or very poor Saturday morning.
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.
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.