Coast and sea
General situation
A strong, cold northerly or northwesterly airflow will continue to extend across the United Kingdom bringing gales to some northern and eastern waters. This will produce blustery showers with snow at times in the north. Low pressure will cross southern waters on Thursday bringing gales or severe gales here for a time.
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
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough until later to the north and west of Orkney, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northeast backing northwest, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in north and near Rattray Head, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Good, occasionally very poor.
- Visibility
- Squally wintry showers.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly veering northerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then south 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Rattray Head.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, becoming mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5, veering south 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, backing south 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later, backing southerly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then squally showers in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in north.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then south 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East or southeast 6 to gale 8, backing west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time near Isles of Scilly.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then south 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East backing northwest later, 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough until later in west, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- East 4 to 6, backing northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5, backing south or southeast 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight for a time.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor good, falling moderate or poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far north.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5, backing south or southeast 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in far north, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very 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 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later, then southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough to the north of skye, occasionally very rough in far north, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough until later north of skye, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high for a time in north.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Thursday 21 Nov 2024 at 0600 UTC until Thursday 21 Nov 2024 at 1800 UTC
General situation
An area of low pressure will move south over Shetland waters on Thursday, with a northerly flow developing on Friday.
Forecast
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west
- Weather
- wintry showers
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Thursday 21 Nov until 0600 UTC on Friday 22 Nov
- Wind
- Northeast 5 to 7 backing north 5 later
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough
- Weather
- Wintry showers, with a risk of thunder
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps locally severe gale 9, backing east by midday, further backing northeast to north 5 to 6 by evening backing northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate to rather rough, locally rough to very rough in the west.
- Weather
- Persistent rain or sleet and mist or fog patches, clearing to scattered showers with a risk of hail during the afternoon.
- Visibility
- Modeate to poor, locally very poor, becoming mainly good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 6, decreasing 4 to 5 by dusk, decreasing 3 to 4 during the evening then backing south to southeast 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate to rather rough, locally rough in the north and west, decreasing slight to moderate with a low swell in the evening, increasing moderate to rather rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or hail showers, clearing by Friday evening rain or drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor later.
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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