Coast and sea
General situation
A front will slowly clear to the southeast of the United Kingdom, before another Atlantic front pushes in from the west later on Wednesday. Rain or showers will affect all areas at times through the period, and winds will increase strong later, with gales developing in north and northwest.
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
- West 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing south or southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in north, slight or moderate in south.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough west and north of Orkney.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West backing southwest, then south later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth, moderate or rough later near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 5 to 7, veering southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north, smooth at times in Firth of Forth.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West backing south or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate at first and later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South veering southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
- Weather
- Rain at first, and later in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly backing southwesterly, then southerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth, moderate at times later in north.
- Weather
- Fair, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first and later in north.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Rain at first and later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly veering southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northeasterly 3 or 4, veering easterly 2 to 4, then southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate at first and later.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 6 or 7, then veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northeast, veering east or southeast, 3 or 4, then southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- 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
- Mainly northeast veering southeast, 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but moderate, occasionally rough in far west.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west, occasionally very rough later near Isles of Scilly, but slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly south 3 to 5, then southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough later in west.
- Weather
- Fair, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Bristol Channel, and very rough at times later in far southwest.
- Weather
- Rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, then south 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in west, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, backing southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west, smooth at times later east of Anglesey.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest backing south or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later for a time later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 5 to 7, veering southwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 4 or 5, backing south 6 or 7 later, occasionally gale 8 in west, then veering southwest 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6, decreasing south or southwest 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first, then fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor at first.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 for a time later, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north and later in southeast.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest, backing southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east and until later in far north, becoming smooth or slight later in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain then 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
- Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, then southerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 for a time later, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in North Channel.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly backing southerly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in North Channel, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West backing southwest, 4 to 6, then south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate to the east of islay and jura, becoming very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing south or southeast, 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest, but slight at times to the east of islay and jura.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, backing southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time, except in shelter northeast of skye.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain for a time later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in entrances, but smooth or slight east of skye.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, backing southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough to the west of the Outer Hebrides and in south.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain for a time later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough in far northeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Valid Wednesday 14 Jan 2026 at 0000 UTC until Wednesday 14 Jan 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation
A low tracks away to the north into the Norwegian Sea on Wednesday with a southwesterly flow across Shetland Waters.
Forecast
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Wednesday 14 Jan until 0000 UTC on Thursday 15 Jan
- Wind
- West or southwest back south 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Channel Islands (19)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South to southwest 3 to 4, locally northeast to east in the north of the area for a time overnight, locally variable 1 to 2 at times, becoming southwest 4 to 5 everywhere after dusk.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight with a low swell, locally moderate in the northwest later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and drizzle, especially in the north and west, with mist and a risk of fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good, occasionally poor, perhaps locally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 5, backing south 5 to 6 by dawn, increasing 6 to 7 Thursday morning, veering northwest 4 to 5 around dusk, then backing southwest later.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with a low swell, increasing moderate to rather rough by midday, perhaps rough for a time mid-channel.
- Weather
- Patchy rain and drizzle, soon becoming widespread and locally heavy clearing to scattered showers around dusk.
- Visibility
- Moderate to good, occasionally 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.
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