Coast and sea
General situation
A rapidly deepening area of low pressure will move quickly towards the northwest of the British Isles during the next 24 hours with gales or severe gales developing across many areas. Storm force winds are also possible for a time across northwestern areas. Associated Atlantic fronts will also bring some rain or showers across the United Kingdom.
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
- Southwesterly veering westerly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in north.
- Sea state
- To the north and west of Orkney, rough or very rough, becoming high or very high, elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly veering northerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in north, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- To the north and west of Orkney, very rough or high, elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north and east.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in firths of Tay and Forth, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West veering northwest, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in firths of Tay and Forth, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6, veering west 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later offshore.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West veering northwest, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest veering west, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West veering northwest, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in the wash and Thames estuary.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly veering northwesterly, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough in northeast.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly veering northwesterly later, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly veering northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high near Isles of Scilly and later west of the Lizard.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high west of the Lizard, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in lyme bay.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 6 to gale 8, then northwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in west, occasionally high later in southwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers, becoming squally later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high until later in west, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in east.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest veering west, 6 to gale 8 , occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West veering northwest, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West veering northwest, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 or 7, veering west 7 or gale 8, then veering northwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 7 or gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough for a time, then moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north and later also in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high in far north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly veering northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in north, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high in far north, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, becoming slight or moderate later in southeast.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- 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
- Southwesterly veering westerly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in North Channel.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly veering northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in North Channel, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough or high in the North Channel, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West veering northwest later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, then occasionally very high in west.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 at times, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high until at first in west, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West veering northwest later, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high near entrances.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in central areas and high near northern and southern entrances.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in far north, veering northwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming high or very high.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, then very high for a time in south.
- Weather
- Rain or squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Saturday 21 Dec 2024 at 0600 UTC until Saturday 21 Dec 2024 at 1800 UTC
General situation
A deep Atlantic low will track close to Shetland on Saturday.
Forecast
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, increasing westerly or southwesterly severe gale 9 or storm 10 in south
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high in south and west later
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Saturday 21 Dec until 0600 UTC on Sunday 22 Dec
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 in north, severe gale 9 or storm 10 in south, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, high or very high in south and west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West to southwest 4 to 6, soon increasing 5 to 7, veering west to northwest this evening, increasing 6 to gale 8 around midnight.
- Sea state
- Moderate to rather rough, increasing rather rough to rough by midday and rough to very rough later.
- Weather
- Isolated showers soon clearing occasional rain and drizzle, clearing towards midnight showers developing, locally heavy with hail.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor at times.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West to northwest 7 to gale 8 with gusts to 60kt, decreasing 6 to 7 by midnight.
- Sea state
- Rough to very rough.
- Weather
- Squally rain or hail showers, becoming isolated overnight.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or 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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