Coast and Sea
Inshore waters and strong winds
General situation
An area of low pressure will move northeastwards across England and Wales on Saturday. This will maintain unsettled weather for most coastlines with occasional rain or showers, some of which will be heavy and thundery. Gales are likely for a time in some southern areas.
Issued at: .
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 28 Aug 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 29 Aug 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 northeasterly backing northwesterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far east but becoming variable 2 for a time later in Moray Firth.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain and fog patches at first in east, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northeast 2 to 4, veering east 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south.
- Weather
- Rain at first in north, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor at first in north, otherwise good occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north but becoming smooth at times in Firth of Forth.
- Weather
- Showers in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in south.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Thundery showers then fair, then rain later in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first, then becoming moderate or poor later in south.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming northeast 3 to 5 then variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times in far north.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate at first in far north.
- Weather
- Thundery showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first, then becoming moderate or poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or less later, then becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate for a time in far north.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south and 3 later in north.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Thames Estuary and The Wash.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers, but becoming fair for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in north.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Thames Estuary and The Wash.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, then occasionally 7 again later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first, then becoming rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers, but becoming fair for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then decreasing 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 4 to 6 for a time, then occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in west, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain for a time, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, then decreasing 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic mainly westerly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later except in Lyme Bay.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain for a time, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 5 to 7 backing southwest 3 or 4, then increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight for a time in Lyme Bay.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 for a time later in north, then becoming westerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5 backing south 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north.
- Weather
- Showers then rain, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming south or southwest 2 to 4, then increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far north.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then northeast 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northeast becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in north, otherwise variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first in south, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later in south.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, then backing southeasterly later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 in north.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable becoming mainly southerly, 3 or less, then backing southeasterly 3 or 4 later in south and west.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in west.
- Weather
- Fair then showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in north, decreasing 2 at times to the east and south of Skye.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 in south.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate for a time in far north.
- Weather
- Fair then showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in north.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight between Barra and Canna, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 in south.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight between Barra and Canna, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeast backing north, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in northwest, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first, becoming good later.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Friday 28 Aug 2026 at 1800 UTC until Saturday 29 Aug 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation
Low pressure centred off NE Scotland will drift northeast towards Norway
Forecast
- Wind
- Northeast backing north, 4 to 6
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southeast
- Weather
- Rain
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good later
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Saturday 29 Aug until 1800 UTC on Saturday 29 Aug
- Wind
- North 4 to 6
- Sea state
- Moderate
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first, then fair
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor at first
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6 mid-channel at first, backing south 5 to 6 by mid-morning, increasing 6 to 7 and veering southwest to west later, perhaps with gusts to 45kt.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, occasionally rather rough mid-channel at first, generally increasing rather rough to rough by tomorrow evening.
- Weather
- Risk of isolated showers mid-channel at first rain and drizzle, locally heavy, spreading in from the west after midnight, clearing to scattered showers by mid-afternoon.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate to poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West to southwest 6 to 7, perhaps with gusts to 45kt at first, decreasing 5 to 6 by late evening, backing southwest to south 4 to 5 by mid-morning Sunday, increasing 5 to 6 again later.
- Sea state
- Rather rough to rough, decreasing moderate to rather rough overnight, locally slight in the southeast.
- Weather
- Isolated showers, becoming more widespread and locally heavy on Sunday.
- Visibility
- Good, locally moderate, or perhaps 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.
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