Coast and sea
General situation
The United Kingdom will be covered by strong to gale force southerly or southwesterly winds. Severe gales are likely at times for some areas on Friday and again on Sunday.
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
- Southeast 7 to severe gale 9, veering south 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north and east, but slight later in the Moray Firth.
- Weather
- Thundery rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South, veering southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing southeast 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight for a time in the Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed (2)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first near Rattray Head, veering south or southwest 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough at first in north, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South, veering southwest, 4 or 5, backing south 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby (3)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to5, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point (4)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4, then veering southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north, becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- South or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 later, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland (5)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, veering westerly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly later, 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill (6)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southerly 4 to 6, veering westerly 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Westerly, backing southwesterly, 4 or 5, then backing southerly 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain at first in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in east.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis (7)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5, then veering west later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West, backing southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming poor later in west.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly (8)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4, then veering west later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west, becoming moderate in lyme bay.
- Weather
- Showers, rain at first in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 to 6, then increasing 7 or gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west, becoming high later near the Isles of Scilly.
- Weather
- Showers, rain and drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel (9)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough, occasionally moderate in the inner Bristol Channel.
- Weather
- Showers, rain at first in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 4 to 6, then increasing 7 or gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate for a time in the inner Bristol Channel, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high later near St Davids Head.
- Weather
- Showers, rain and drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel (10)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, then veering southwest 4.
- Sea state
- Very rough occasionally high in south, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain at first in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 4, backing south 4 or 5, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later, occasionally high later near St Davids Head.
- Weather
- Showers, rain and drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway (11)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, then veering southwest 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain and drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Isle of Man (12)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South gale 8 or severe gale 9, veering southwest 5 or 6, decreasing 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle then fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest, backing south, 3 to 5, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good becoming moderate or poor later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (13)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, then veering southwest 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southeast 5 or 6, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain and drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel (14)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, then veering southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 5 or 6, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain and drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point (15)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South, veering southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in shelter.
- Weather
- Showers, rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest, backing southeast, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in shelter.
- Weather
- Showers, rain and drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
The Minch (16)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing south or southeast 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath (17)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough occasionally high.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing south or southeast 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough occasionally high.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Shetland Isles (18)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South or southeast gale 8 or severe gale 9, decreasing 6 or 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland (18)
Strong wind warning
Valid Friday 21 Feb 2025 at 1200 UTC until Saturday 22 Feb 2025 at 0000 UTC
General situation
Deep low complex to the west and northwest pushing fronts across your area today, while maintaining a brisk south to southwest follow.
Forecast
- Wind
- South 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 6 to gale 8
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high, but rough in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Occasional rain, becoming mainly fair later
- Visibility
- Moderate or good
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Saturday 22 Feb until 1200 UTC on Saturday 22 Feb
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high in far west, but rough in lee shelter of shetland
- Weather
- Mainly fair
- Visibility
- Mainly good
Channel Islands (19)
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
- Wind
- South to southeast 5 to 6, occasionally 7 in the north of the area, veering south to southwest 3 to 5 by evening, further veering westerly 3 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate with a swell in the south, rather rough to rough in the north, moderating this evening.
- Weather
- Rain spreading eastwards by midday, perhaps locally heavy, with mist or coastal fog patches, clearing to fair overnight.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate to very poor until midnight.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
- Wind
- West to southwest 2 to 4, backing south 4 to 6 by Sunday morning, occasionally 7 mid channel by midday Sunday.
- Sea state
- Slight with a moderate swell becoming rather rough to rough.
- Weather
- Fair becoming cloudy with rain in the west of the area Sunday morning.
- Visibility
- Good, perhaps occasionally moderate to poor in the west 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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