Coast and sea
General situation
The United Kingdom will lie in a southwesterly airflow during the next day or two. Winds will strengthen to become gale force in northern and western areas, with severe gale or storm force winds developing near northern and western coasts of Scotland later on Thursday and early on Friday.
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
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming south or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm 10 later near Cape Wrath.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate but smooth or slight in Moray Firth, becoming moderate or rough, but rough or very rough later to west of Orkney.
- Weather
- Rain at times, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest gale 8 to storm 10, veering west 6 to gale 8, then veering northwest 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but very rough or high in north, becoming rough or very rough later in north.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west or northwest 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary and the wash.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary and the wash.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east and 4 in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first in east and rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Lands End.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in lyme bay, elsewhere mainly moderate or rough, but becoming very rough in west.
- 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 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in west.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 at times later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming good later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near st david's head.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate and poor later in southwest.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 7 or gale 8, veering west 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain or showers later.
- Visibility
- Mostly good, occasionally poor later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5 increasing 5 to 7, then increasing 7 or gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, then becoming very rough or high later in north.
- Weather
- Rain at times, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering westerly later, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but very rough or high in north.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 6 to gale 8 later, then decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8, then increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in shelter, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming high or very high later.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly severe gale 9 or storm 10, decreasing gale 8 or severe gale 9, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high for a time in west, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, then increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north and south.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest gale 8 to storm 10, veering west or northwest 5 to 7, veering north 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south and moderate later in central areas.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, then increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming high or very high later.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest gale 8 to storm 10, veering west or northwest 5 to 7, veering north 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming very rough or high, then mainly very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, then southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Thursday 27 Nov 2025 at 0000 UTC until Thursday 27 Nov 2025 at 1200 UTC
General situation
Frontal troughs will move northeast over Shetland Waters during Thursday with a deep low approaching from the west in the evening.
Forecast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 or 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Thursday 27 Nov until 0000 UTC on Friday 28 Nov
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in west, veering southwesterly then increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6 mid-channel, increasing 5 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with a low swell, rather rough in the north and west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle risk of coastal mist patches.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 6, soon veering west 4 to 5, locally 3 at times, increasing 5 to 6 in the afternoon, perhaps locally 7 mid-channel later.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with a low swell, increasing rather rough to rough for a time later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, with a risk of coastal mist or fog patches, clearing around midday isolated showers developing in the afternoon.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to poor, perhaps locally very poor.
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.
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