Coast and sea
General situation
A cold front will clear away to the southeast with a showery and mainly westerly flow across all parts on Thursday. This will be followed by a brief ridge of high pressure during Thursday night into Friday, before wet a windy conditions return to some northwestern waters.
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
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 to 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- To the west and north of Orkney, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south and very rough in north.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 6 to gale 8, veering south 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5 veering west 5 to 7, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 or 4 veering west 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming southeast 6 or 7, veering west 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time.
- Weather
- Rain or showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming southeasterly, then cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 3 to 5 veering northwest 4 to 6, then southeast 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East or southeast 3 or 4 increasing 4 to 6, veering west or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, veering southeasterly 2 to 4 later, increasing 5 or 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east, becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly veering westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west and later in east, becoming very rough later in far west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time in west, then veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west, becoming rough or very rough later except in far east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later, then south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later east of Anglesey.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain at times, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 5 or 6, backing south 3 to 5 later, occasionally 2 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West 5 or 6 decreasing 3 or 4, backing south 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming slight, then slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers then fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 4 or 5 backing south or southeast 7 or gale 8, then veering south or southwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair, then occasional rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West, backing south later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough in far north, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast 5 or 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, then decreasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
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 southerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Clyde and rough near the Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West, backing south later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east and very rough elsewhere.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 4 to 6 backing southeast gale 8 to storm 10, then veering south 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in sheltered east, but elsewhere rough or very rough, occasionally high later west of Tiree.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7, backing southerly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 3 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight just east and north of skye, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly 4 to 6 backing southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in south, veering southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough in south and west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7, backing southerly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 3 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough near Sutherland.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly 4 to 6 backing southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in south, veering southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough near Sutherland, but elsewhere rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest veering west, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north and west.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Thursday 09 Apr 2026 at 1200 UTC until Friday 10 Apr 2026 at 0000 UTC
General situation
Cold front will slowly move east across Shetland Waters followed by a showery westerly flow
Forecast
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west 3 to 5
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough in northwest, but moderate in lee shelter
- Weather
- Rain then showers
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate or poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Friday 10 Apr until 1200 UTC on Friday 10 Apr
- Wind
- West 3 to 5
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate in lee shelter
- Weather
- Showers
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate or poor
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to northwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6, veering northeast to east 3 to 4 after midnight and southeast 2 to 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, decreasing smooth or slight by dawn, with a low swell.
- Weather
- Mist or fog patches soon clearing.
- Visibility
- Good, locally poor or very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East to southeast 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 by dusk, perhaps occasionally 6 mid-channel, veering southwest 3 to 4 after midnight and west 5 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, increasing slight to moderate by dawn, with a low swell further increasing rather rough to rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle after midnight, with mist or fog patches, clearing around dawn risk of showers later.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, occasionally moderate after midnight, locally poor or very poor for a time.
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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