Coast and Sea

Inshore waters and strong winds


General situation

A light airflow covers the United Kingdom, with moderate winds affecting the far southeast of England at first. A strong southerly wind will develop across some Scottish waters as a deepening low approaches from the Atlantic.

Issued at: .

For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 6 May 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 7 May 2026

Inshore waters and strong winds map


Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southeast 2 to 4, veering south 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later except in the Moray Firth.
Sea state
Smooth at first in the Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Cape Wrath.
Weather
Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near Orkney, veering west or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near Orkney.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north, becoming smooth later in the Moray Firth.
Weather
Showers then fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
South 3 or less, increasing 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Smooth for a time in south, otherwise slight, occasionally moderate later in north.
Weather
Showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
South 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in st andrews bay and Firth of Forth, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later near st andrews bay and Firth of Forth.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Variable 3 or less, becoming south 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate at first in south.
Weather
Showers later in north.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Showers for a time.
Visibility
Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming southeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate becoming slight.
Weather
Showers at first in south.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally smooth later in south.
Weather
Showers for a time.
Visibility
Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northeasterly, veering southeasterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Moderate for a time in north, otherwise slight occasionally smooth in south.
Weather
Showers then fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers for a time.
Visibility
Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers for a time.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Variable, becoming easterly or southeasterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather
Fair then showers.
Visibility
Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Variable, becoming southeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth, occasionally slight at first.
Weather
Showers then fair.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
East or southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Fair then showers.
Visibility
Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth, occasionally slight at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth, occasionally slight later near Lands End.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Variable, becoming southwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later near Anglesey.
Sea state
Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather
Showers for a time.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
South or southwest, becoming variable later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first near Anglesey.
Sea state
Smooth occasionally slight.
Weather
Showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
South or southeast 2 to 4, increasing 5 for a time.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers for a time.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
South or southwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Isle of Man (12)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southeast 3 or less, veering south 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Showers for a time.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Souts 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
South or southeast, veering southwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
South or southwest, veering north or northeast later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate in far north.
Weather
Showers then fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in the North Channel.
Sea state
Slight occasionally smooth.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first in the North Channel.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in the North Channel, becoming variable later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near the Mull of Kintyre.
Weather
Showers then fair.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
South 2 to 4, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate, occasionally rough later near Tiree.
Weather
Fair then occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southwest, veering west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, then veering north or northwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far west.
Weather
Showers then fair, occasional rain at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch (16)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
South or southeast 2 to 4, veering southwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 for a time.
Sea state
Smooth at first in central waters, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers for a time.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southwest, veering northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming smooth later in central waters.
Weather
Showers, wintry later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
South or southeast 2 to 4, veering southwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 for a time.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first.
Weather
Rain or showers for a time.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southwest, veering northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later between barra and canna.
Weather
Showers, wintry later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shetland Isles (18)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 to 5, then veering south 6 or 7 later.
Sea state
Smooth at first in sheltered east, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough later.
Weather
Fair then rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)

Valid Wednesday 06 May 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 07 May 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation

Atlantic low pressure will drift east, becoming slow moving to the northwest of Scotland on Thursday. Associated warm front will move northeast across Shetland Waters on Wednesday night.

Forecast

Wind
Variable 2 or 3 becoming southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west
Sea state
Moderate, but slight just southeast of shetland at first
Weather
Rain
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 07 May until 1800 UTC on Thursday 07 May

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, but 4 at first in east
Sea state
Moderate becoming mainly rough
Weather
Rain at times
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands (19)

24 hour forecast:

Wind
East 2 to 3, veering southeast 3 to 4 after midnight.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Isolated showers, mainly in the south risk of mist or fog patches near french coast overnight.
Visibility
Good, locally moderate perhaps poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southeast to east 3 to 4, becoming variable 2 to 3 by midday.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Isolated showers risk of mist or fog patches near french coast overnight.
Visibility
Good, locally moderate perhaps poor or very 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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