Coast and sea
General situation
A deepening low, storm dave will run northeastwards across the British Isles into the North Sea on Saturday night, bringing a spell of wet and very windy weather to all areas, with gales or severe gales over most waters, and storm force winds to the Irish Sea and northeastern areas. Winds will decrease into Sunday morning.
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
- East 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 near Rattray Head, then southwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- North and west of Orkney, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, elsewhere slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet, then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- North and west of Orkney, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7, veering westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in north, decreasing westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough for a time in north.
- Weather
- Rain, wintry showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 to 7, backing south or southwest 3 to 5, backing south 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north, becoming mainly slight later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 4 to 6, veering southwest 7 to severe gale 9, then west 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4, then southeast later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Showers, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4, then southeast later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, veering westerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time in northeast.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then easterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming mainly slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but rough or very rough for a time in west, occasionally high near Isles of Scilly, becoming slight or moderate later in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 or 4, backing east or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in west, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West backing south, then southeast later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate east of Anglesey, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally slight east of Anglesey.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest, backing south, then southeast later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, veering west 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West backing south, then southeast later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest gale 8 or severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in places at first, veering west 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, then mainly moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain at first, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 3 or 4, backing south or southeast 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southeast, veering west 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north and southeast, becoming slight or moderate later in east.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing south 3 to 5, then southeast 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
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 becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first near Mull of Galloway, backing westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north and south, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5, then southeasterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming north, 7 to severe gale 9, backing northwest 5 to 7, then west later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5, the southeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west, and slight in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Wintry showers until later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, backing northwesterly 5 to 7 later backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in central areas.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet, then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in central areas.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers until later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, backing northwesterly 5 to 7 later backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet, then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough at first and later in southwest.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers until later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far south, then westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later,.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in shelter east of Shetland, becoming very rough for a time in south.
- Weather
- Rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Saturday 04 Apr 2026 at 1800 UTC until Sunday 05 Apr 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation
A transient ridge will affect Shetland Waters at first. A deepening low named Storm Dave will move northeast across mainland Scotland, this passing just to the southeast of Shetland Waters Saturday night, clearing east into the North Sea through Sunday morning.
Forecast
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time then becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 for a time later.
- Sea state
- Rough, but moderate just east of shetland. becoming very rough in south later.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Sunday 05 Apr until 1800 UTC on Sunday 05 Apr
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 for a time at first, becoming west 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough, but very rough in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 6, occasionally 7 in the north of the area, perhaps locally with gusts to 45kt for a time, veering west overnight, decreasing 4 to 5 by midday, decreasing 3 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rather rough to rough, but slight to moderate with a low swell in the southeast at first, occasionally very rough mid-channel early Sunday, generally becoming slight to moderate with a moderate swell later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain overnight, the isolated showers by dawn, dying out in the afternoon.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate overnight.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 2 to 4, becoming variable 1 to 3, then southeast 3 to 4 soon after midnight, occasionally 5 in the north and west later.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with a moderate swell, decreasing smooth to slight with a low swell around dusk.
- Weather
- Fair or fine.
- Visibility
- Good or very good.
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.