Coast and sea
General situation
A brief ridge of high pressure will cross the United Kingdom from the southwest. A deepening, Atlantic low will move northeast towards Scotland during Saturday, and deepen rapidly, to bring gales or severe gales to most waters, and probable storm force winds to some northern waters 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
- Westerly 5 to 7, backing easterly 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough in north, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in east, then becoming westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in south and east, otherwise moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 5 to 7, then backing southeast 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough at first near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing southeast 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, squally in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South, veering west or southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 3 to 5, then backing southerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly 5 to 7, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then veering westerly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, backing southerly 4 or 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 4 to 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in shelter.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight for a time near lyme bay, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest, veering west, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- In far west, very rough occasionally high becoming rough later, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally slight later in shelter.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional drizzle at first, fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West, backing south, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, then veering southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest, veering west, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain or drizzle at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West, backing south, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, then veering southwest 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight for a time in north, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West, backing south later, 4 to 6, then increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain and drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good becoming moderate or poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South, veering west or southwest, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 5 or 6, decreasing 4, then backing southeast 4, veering south gale 8 or severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South gale 8 or severe gale 9, veering southwest severe gale 9 or storm 10, then veering west 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then fair.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain and drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming slight or moderate in south.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain at first.
- 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
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain and drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5, then backing southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast, veering west later, 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, then backing westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, then backing westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north and west, becoming slight later in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Friday 03 Apr 2026 at 1800 UTC until Saturday 04 Apr 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation
A low to the north of Shetland continues northeast into the Norwegian Basin, where it deepens later, extending a showery airstream over Shetland Waters. A transient ridge develops ahead of a deepening low moving northeast across the UK later on Saturday.
Forecast
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in south at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, moderate just east of shetland.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Saturday 04 Apr until 1800 UTC on Saturday 04 Apr
- Wind
- West 5 to 7, backing southwest then south later, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Rough, but moderate east of shetland, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6, decreasing 3 to 4 after midnight, backing southwest to south 4 to 5 by dawn.
- Sea state
- Moderate to rather rough, decreasing slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell by dawn.
- Weather
- Patchy rain or drizzle and mist or fog patches, clearing by mid-morning.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor at times.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 6, occasionally 7 in the north of the area, veering west overnight, decreasing 4 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell, increasing rather rough to rough from late evening.
- Weather
- Patchy rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
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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