Coast and Sea
Inshore waters and strong winds
General situation
A ridge of high pressure will retreat southwestwards as a cold front moves across the United Kingdom on Monday, bring a narrow band of rain or showers southwards. Strong winds affecting some coastlines, mainly in the east, will slowly ease. Further fronts will then move southeastwards on Tuesday on a strengthening northwesterly flow.
Issued at: .
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 11 May 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 12 May 2026
Inshore waters and strong winds map
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in northwest.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly for a time, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming variable, then southwest, 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near Berwick upon Tweed.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 or 5, then variable 2 to 4 for a time later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5, veering north or northwest 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5 at first in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough in northeast.
- Weather
- Fair then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast, becoming smooth or slight in Thames estuary.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly, backing northwesterly for a time, 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in west.
- Weather
- Showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate in east and smooth in west.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeast backing west or northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeast backing north or northwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far west, becoming smooth or slight later in east.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeast backing north or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in Bristol Channel.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally smooth in east, becoming mainly moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time.
- Weather
- Showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwesterly, veering northeasterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, veering northeast 3 to 5, backing west or northwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming slight.
- Weather
- Showers then fair.
- Visibility
- Mainly good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, backing west 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle at first, then fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, veering north 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then west 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later except in far north.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate until later in North Channel, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Mull of Kintyre.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in sheltered east.
- Weather
- Showers mainly at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except in shelter, then very rough later in far west.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, squally later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time in south.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, squally later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate between barra and canna, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later to the west of the Outer Hebrides.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, squally later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, backing northwest 3 or 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first, then becoming slight at times in east.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Monday 11 May 2026 at 0000 UTC until Monday 11 May 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation
A ridge topples across Shetland waters on Monday ahead of an approaching front arriving in the evening.
Forecast
- Wind
- North 5 or 6, backing northwest 3 or 4 later
- Sea state
- Rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate, but slight in well sheltered eastern waters
- Weather
- Showers dying out
- Visibility
- Moderate or good
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Monday 11 May until 0000 UTC on Tuesday 12 May
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 in west later
- Sea state
- Moderate, but slight in well sheltered eastern waters
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain later
- Visibility
- Good, moderate later
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeast 5 to 6 with gusts to 35kt, perhaps locally 7 at first, backing north 4 to 5 overnight then backing northwest by midday Monday, veering east to southeast 3 to 4 later, locally variable 1 to 2.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, perhaps locally rather rough at first, decreasing smooth to slight with a low swell by mid-morning.
- Weather
- Rain and showers, mainly in the south and east, clearing by dawn isolated showers in the north later, clearing by midnight.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East to southeast 3 to 4, locally variable 1 to 2, veering west northwest 3 to 4 by midday, increasing 4 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth to slight.
- Weather
- Isolated showers later.
- Visibility
- Good or very good, occasionally moderate.
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.
Please refer to GMDSS services, INMARSAT SafetyNET or international NAVTEX for the latest information. When using these web pages, always check that the page on your screen is not from your cache. Use the Refresh or Reload button if in any doubt.