Coast and sea

Inshore waters and strong winds

General situation

An area of low pressure over north Scotland bringing unsettled and windy conditions with a risk of gales for many areas, will move east towards Scandinavia through the weekend, followed by a transient ridge of high pressure giving a brief period of quieter weather, before further Atlantic fronts move east later on Sunday and into Monday.

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
North or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
In Moray Firth, slight or moderate occasionally rough, but elsewhere, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Mainly good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time, backing southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time and rough or very rough for a time near Rattray Head.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southwest 2 to 4, backing south 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southwest.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
West 5 to 7, veering northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west or southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain or showers then mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southwest 2 or 3, backing south or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
West 5 to 7, veering northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west or southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers then fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
West or southwest 2 or 3, backing south or southeast 3 or 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather
Fair then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in northeast.
Weather
Rain at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Variable 3 or less, becoming southeasterly 3 or 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south.
Weather
Fair then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Rain at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair then rain or drizzle.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, veering north 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southeast 3 to 5, veering southwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Fair then rain or drizzle.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northwest 4 or 5, veering east or northeast 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southeast veering southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near shore.
Weather
Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later, then southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, then smooth or slight later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Smooth or slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

Isle of Man (12)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northwest 7 or gale 8, veering north, then south or southeast later, 3 or 4.
Sea state
Rough, becoming slight later.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
South or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state
Slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time.
Weather
Rain, fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, becoming good later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far northwest, otherwise moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather
Showers at first, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
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
Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight throughout in far north, otherwise moderate or rough becoming mainly slight.
Weather
Showers at first, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in North Channel.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch (16)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
North 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
South or southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near northern and southern entrances.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northerly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps increasing gale 8 for a time in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles (18)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
North or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers, wintry at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)

Strong wind warning

Valid Saturday 12 Oct 2024 at 1800 UTC until Sunday 13 Oct 2024 at 0600 UTC

General situation

Area of low pressure will drift east across northern Scotland on Saturday. Ridge of high pressure will build from the west on Sunday.

Forecast

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, occasionally wintry.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Sunday 13 Oct until 1800 UTC on Sunday 13 Oct

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in east.
Weather
Showers, occasionally wintry, dying out.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Channel Islands (19)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Northwest 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6 mid-channel this evening, veering north to northeast 2 to 4 by dawn, then east to southeast 3 to 4 by midday.
Sea state
Smooth to slight, increasing slight to moderate this evening, decreasing smooth to slight with a low swell later.
Weather
Patchy rain or isolated showers, clearing by mid-evening.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate until mid-evening.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind
Southeast 3 to 4, veering southerly overnight, perhaps locally 5 until dawn Monday, further veering southwest during the morning, decreasing 2 to 3 later.
Sea state
Smooth, occasionally slight, with a low swell.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, perhaps heavy and thundery, clearing by dawn.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

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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