Coast and sea

Inshore waters and strong winds

General situation

A complex area of low pressure will continue to deepen in the vicinity of the United Kingdom and will bring very unsettled and windy conditions to almost all areas. As the low gradually edges eastwards on Friday, severe northerly gales may develop down North Sea coasts bringing some very rough seas.

Issued at: 00:01 (UTC) on Thu 24 Sep 2020

For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 24 Sep 2020 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2020

Inshore waters forecast and strong winds map

Inshore waters forecast explained

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney (1)

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, backing northerly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in east.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Rattray Head.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: North 3 to 5, backing north or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough at first near Rattray Head, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except in Moray Firth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: North or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: North 5 or 6, backing northwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in south, and throughout in firths of Forth and Tay, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: North or northwest, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, then becoming north 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first in north.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: North 5 to 7, backing northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: West 5 to 7, backing south or southwest, but becoming cyclonic at times, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: West or northwest 4 or 5, veering north or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later offshore.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time in south, then decreasing mainly 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in east.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Westerly 4 or 5, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then very rough or high near Norfolk.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in east.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near North Foreland.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, then becoming slight or moderate later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain or thundery showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor until later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: West or southwest, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: West or southwest, becoming cyclonic, then northwest later, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first east of the Lizard, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming very rough in far southwest, and occasionally high later west of Lands End.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough until later west of the Lizard, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate east of the Lizard.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: West or southwest, becoming cyclonic, then northwest later, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far southwest.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later in northeast.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: South 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic, then north later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near St Davids Head.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: North backing northwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in shelter.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic, then north later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near the Mull of Galloway.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: North backing northwest, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in south.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Isle of Man (12)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or southeast, then backing north or northeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: North or northeast, backing north or northwest, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming easterly, then backing northerly or northeasterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time in east.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in east.
Weather: Showers, rain for a time in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate 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: Easterly 3 or 4, backing northeasterly, then northerly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Northerly backing northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in North Channel.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in North Channel.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Southeast 3 or 4, backing east, then north later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: North 3 to 5, backing north or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

The Minch (16)

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Southeast backing northeast, then becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate near northern and southern entrances, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first in central areas, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in far northeast.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Southeast backing northeast, then becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time in north.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Shetland Isles (18)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, backing north 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

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

Valid Thursday 24 Sep 2020 at 0000 UTC until Thursday 24 Sep 2020 at 1200 UTC

General situation

Low pressure over Norway gives a northeasterly or northerly flow over Shetland Waters.

Forecast

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in east, backing northerly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in west
Sea state: Moderate but rough in east later
Weather: Isolated showers
Visibility: Mainly good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Thursday 24 Sep until 0000 UTC on Friday 25 Sep

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far east
Weather: Isolated showers
Visibility: Mainly good

Channel Islands (19)

Strong winds are forecast

24 hour forecast:

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, with gusts to 50kt, increasing 6 to gale 8 by dusk, perhaps occasionally severe gale 9, then veering northwest by midnight.
Sea state: Rather rough to rough, with a low to moderate swell, increasing rough to very rough after dusk, occasionally high.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, locally heavy with the risk of hail and thunder.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate to poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours:

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 to 7 from dawn.
Sea state: Rough to very rough, occasionally high at first, with a moderate swell.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, locally heavy, with the risk of hail and thunder continuing until midday.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate to poor.

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.