Coast and sea

Inshore waters and strong winds

General situation

An increasingly hot southerly airflow will affect the United Kingdom during the next few days, but cooler Atlantic air will move across western areas from time to time. Thundery outbreaks will move northwards on occasions, particularly Tuesday evening and Tuesday night.

Issued at: 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 23 Jul 2019

For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 23 Jul 2019 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 24 Jul 2019

Inshore waters forecast and strong winds map

Inshore waters forecast explained

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Southerly, backing southeasterly later 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first near Cape Wrath then later in east.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in Moray Firth and in shelter elsewhere, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Southeasterly veering southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in Moray Firth and in shelter elsewhere, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers until later, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: South backing southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight until later in south, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Southeast 5 or 6, veering south or southwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight or moderate, then slight later.
Weather: Thundery showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: South 3 or 4, backing southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Southeast veering southwest for a time, 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Thundery showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: South backing southeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Southeast 5 or 6, veering south 4 or 5, then becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Southwesterly backing southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Southeasterly veering southerly 4 or 5, then becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Easterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6, then veering southwesterly later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Westerly 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near shore later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: East 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, then west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: West 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near shore later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Easterly becoming cyclonic, then westerly or southwesterly later, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first east of the Lizard, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Lyme Bay.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Variable, mainly south or southeast, veering southwest later, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in far east, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Southwest backing south later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in far east, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
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: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time in north.
Weather: Fog patches in west, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Southerly 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 4 or 5 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
Weather: Fog patches in northwest, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in northwest.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Southerly backing southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in west.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in Liverpool Bay, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man (12)

24 hour forecast:

Wind: South 4 or 5, becoming variable 3, the southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: South or southwest, backing south, then southeast later, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches in east, rain or thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Southerly backing southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in southeast, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches in east, rain or thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in North Channel.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Southerly backing southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in far south, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in North Channel.
Weather: Thundery showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: South backing southeast for a time, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in southeast.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: South backing southeast later, 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch (16)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: South 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in south, becoming smooth or slight in central and northern areas.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming fair, then rain or thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming southwest 4 or 5 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in south, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: South 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming smooth or slight near Sutherland, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming fair, then rain or thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming southwest 4 or 5 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight near Sutherland, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles (18)

24 hour forecast:

Wind: South or southwest, backing southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain at first, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

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

Valid Tuesday 23 Jul 2019 at 0600 UTC until Tuesday 23 Jul 2019 at 1800 UTC

General situation

A low centred to the northwest of Scotland will push a weather front north over Shetland on Tuesday morning.

Forecast

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5 backing south 3 or 4 later
Sea state: Slight or moderate
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches, mainly fair later in south
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Tuesday 23 Jul until 0600 UTC on Wednesday 24 Jul

Wind: South 3 or 4 backing southeast 4 or 5
Sea state: Slight or moderate
Weather: Occasional rain at first in north, fog patches
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Channel Islands (19)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: East to northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 this morning mid-channel, becoming cyclonic this afternoon 3 to 5, locally 6, then becoming west or northwest by mid-evening.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, locally moderate later tonight.
Weather: Mist and fog patches at times, with fog banks developing for a time this evening and at first tonight, thundery showers by early afternoon, dying out overnight.
Visibility: Moderate to good, locally poor to very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: West to northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less by midday, then becoming east to northeast 2 to 4 by early evening, veering southeasterly 2 to 3 overnight.
Sea state: Slight to moderate with a low swell, becoming smooth in the far southeast of the area late in the night.
Weather: Mainly fair or fine, mist and fog patches developing overnight.
Visibility: Moderate to good, becoming locally poor to very poor overnight.

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.