Coast and sea
General situation
A deepening Atlantic low, approaching the far northwest of the United Kingdom will bring strengthening winds, with gales affecting some areas.
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
- Southeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7, then veering south 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later near Cape Wrath.
- Sea state
- Smooth at first in inner Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north, then becoming very rough later in far north.
- Weather
- Rain for a time then showers, squally later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first near Cape Wrath, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough, but very rough or high for a time in far north.
- Weather
- Squally showers at first in north, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later, then veering southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate, occasionally poor later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast, veering southwest, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast, veering southwest, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly, veering southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near the wash and Thames estuary.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near the wash and Thames estuary.
- Weather
- Showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in east.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, occasional drizzle at first.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in far east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, occasional drizzle at first.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest, backing south, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later in lyme bay.
- Sea state
- Rough in far west, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near great orme head.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7, then backing south 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in far north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast, veering southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Fair then rain and drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 6 or 7, veering southwest 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5, then 5 or 6 again later.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then far.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6, increasing south or southwest 6 or 7, gradually decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast, veering southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Lough Foyle.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near Lough Foyle.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain and drizzle, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or 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
- Southeasterly, veering southwesterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or less for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in the North Channel.
- Weather
- Fair then rain and drizzle, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 2 to 4, becoming variable for a time.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally slight later in shelter.
- Weather
- Rain or showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far south, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Northeast 2 to 4, veering southeast 4 to 6, then veering south or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in shelter.
- Weather
- Showers then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good becoming moderate, occasionally poor later.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Wednesday 17 Sep 2025 at 0600 UTC until Wednesday 17 Sep 2025 at 1800 UTC
General situation
Weak ridge of high pressure will move across Shetland Waters on Wednesday morning. Atlantic trough will cross Shetland waters Wednesday evening.
Forecast
- Wind
- East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southwest
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough
- Weather
- Fair, rain later
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Wednesday 17 Sep until 0600 UTC on Thursday 18 Sep
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south later
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, very rough in west later
- Weather
- Outbreaks rain
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest f4 to 5, locally 6 in the north of the area today, locally 3 in the south of the area this afternoon.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate with a low swell, increasing rather rough to rough in the north of the area for a time today.
- Weather
- Patchy light rain today, mainly in the north of the area occasional drizzle or mist patches tonight.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest to south 3 to 4, occasionally 5 in the north of the area at first, generally backing south to southeast 2 to 3 by evening, becoming variable later.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, decreasing smooth to slight by midday, with a low swell throughout.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle or mist patches in the morning, then perhaps again overnight.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, locally poor at times.
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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