Coast and sea
General situation
A complex area of low pressure will remain slow moving over or just to the west of the United Kingdom, and will bring unsettled and at times rather windy weather to all areas during the next couple of days.
Issued at:
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period to
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in north, veering southeasterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle for a time, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally very poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East or northeast, veering southeast later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East or southeast 4 or 5, veering south 5 to 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Rain and fog patches for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East veering southeast, 4 or 5, increasing 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East or southeast, veering south or southeast, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East or southeast, veering south or southeast, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southeast, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 or 6, veering southerly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly backing southeasterly, then veering southerly later, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, occasionally thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, backing southeast 5 or 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, occasionally thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest, backing southeast for a time, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 or 5, veering west 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate east of the Lizard, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, occasionally thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 3 or 4 at first in Bristol Channel, otherwise southerly, backing easterly or southeasterly for a time, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, but 6 or 7 at first in west, veering westerly 5 to 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight at times in Bristol Channel, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly at first in north, otherwise southerly, backing easterly or southeasterly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Occasionally variable 3 or 4 at first in east, otherwise easterly, becoming cyclonic for a time, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in west.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly, veering southerly or southeasterly, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in Liverpool Bay, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East 4 or 5, veering south 5 or 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East 4 or 5, veering south or southeast 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East or southeast, veering south for a time, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East or southeast, veering south, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or thundery 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
- Easterly or northeasterly, veering southerly or southeasterly, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in shelter.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly, veering southerly or southeasterly, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East, veering southeast later, 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- East or southeast 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, veering southerly or southeasterly later, 5 or 6, decreasing 4 at times, occasionally 7 at first in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Smooth at times in central areas, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far south.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, veering southerly or southeasterly later, 5 or 6, decreasing 4 at times, occasionally 7 at first in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southeast 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East, veering southeast later, 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in shelter to the west of Shetland.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good becoming moderate, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Valid Wednesday 24 Apr 2019 at 1200 UTC until Thursday 25 Apr 2019 at 0000 UTC
General situation
The ridge of high pressure over the East Shetland Basin will decline allowing fronts to cross from the south on Wednesday night.
Forecast
- Wind
- East 5 or 6, increasing 7 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but slight in sheltered waters west of shetland.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Thursday 25 Apr until 1200 UTC on Thursday 25 Apr
- Wind
- East veering southeast 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough, but slight or moderate in sheltered waters west of shetland
- Weather
- Occasional rain. Fog patches possible.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor, perhaps very poor at times.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South to southeast 3 to 4, occasionally 5, backing east to southeast 5 to 6 with gusts to 35kt early this evening, then veering south overnight and occasionally 4 after dawn.
- Sea state
- Slight to moderate, increasing rather rough in the north and west from late evening till dawn.
- Weather
- Showers, locally heavy and prolonged with a risk of thunder and hail, especially this evening and early tonight.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor during showers.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South 4 to 5, perhaps occasionally 6, locally variable 2 to 3, then decreasing 2 to 4 during evening and veering southwest after dawn.
- Sea state
- Slight, locally moderate early afternoon and again in west after midday Friday, with a low increasing moderate swell by noon Friday.
- Weather
- Occasional showers, locally heavy with a risk of thunder, becoming isolated overnight rain in west late morning.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to poor during showers and rain.
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.
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.