Coast and Sea
Inshore waters and strong winds
General situation
High pressure centred over the mid-Atlantic continues to extend a ridge over the United Kingdom, bringing a generally light to moderate westerly to northwesterly flow. Westerly winds will then gradually strengthen in the north from Friday, becoming strong at times, as the ridge declines southwards.
Issued at: .
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jul 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jul 2026
Inshore waters and strong winds map
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north, occasionally rough later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle or showers, mainly in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later near Cape Wrath and later elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in north, but in south, smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 in south, and southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth until later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in far north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time at first in north, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth at first and moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming westerly 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming west, then backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally smooth.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in northeast.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly, then backing southerly or southwesterly later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable, becoming mainly southwesterly, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
- Sea state
- Smooth.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest, then backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- 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, occasionally moderate at first near Isles of Scilly.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly, then backing westerly or southwesterly later, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Mainly northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4 in west, occasionally 5 at first near pembrokeshire, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far west.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near St Davids Head.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly, backing westerly or southwesterly later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly for a time at first in north, 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Isle of Man (12)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4, then backing west later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5, then 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair, then occasional rain or drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Mainly variable 2 to 4 at first in far south, otherwise northerly or northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle or showers in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time at first, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, but in far north, slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle or showers in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in northwest.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east and rough later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Showers or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in eastern shelter.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but mainly smooth or slight in central areas.
- Weather
- Showers or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near northern entrance.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in far south, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east, becoming rough at times in north and west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Valid Thursday 23 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC until Friday 24 Jul 2026 at 0000 UTC
General situation
High pressure west of the British Isles slips south allowing a strengthening westerly flow to develop over Shetlands Waters on Thursday and Friday
Forecast
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 or 6
- Sea state
- Moderate in south and east, but slight or smooth in sheltered waters east of shetland. moderate becoming rough in north and west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Friday 24 Jul until 1200 UTC on Friday 24 Jul
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 or 6
- Sea state
- Moderate in south and east, but slight in sheltered waters east of shetland. rough in north and west.
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Channel Islands (19)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 1 to 3, becoming north 2 to 4 by mid-afternoon, veering northeast to east after dusk, decreasing 1 to 3 overnight, becoming variable in the morning.
- Sea state
- Smooth, locally slight in the south.
- Weather
- Fair some mist patches near normandy coasts early morning.
- Visibility
- Very good, locally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable soon becoming northerly 3 to 4, locally 5 southeast of jersey in the afternoon and early evening, backing northwest by midday.
- Sea state
- Smooth, locally slight in the south late afternoon.
- Weather
- Fair or fine.
- Visibility
- Good or very good.
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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