UK coastal weather
The roughest sea in the next five days is forecast off Brighton and the Sussex coast, with waves to about 1.3 m. The warmest water is off Brighton and the Sussex coast at about 14°C. Use it to plan a day on the shore. For sailing, use the Met Office shipping and inshore forecasts.
Wave height for five days
| Coast | Sea now | Today | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton and the Sussex coastEnglish Channel | 14°C | 1.3 mModerateE, 4 s | 0.9 mSlightESE, 4 s | 0.3 mCalm to smoothSSE, 8 s | 0.1 mCalm to smoothWSW, 9 s | 0.2 mCalm to smoothSSW, 5 s |
| Penzance and Mount's BayCeltic Sea approaches | 14°C | 1.2 mSlightENE, 7 s | 1.2 mSlightE, 7 s | 0.7 mSlightWSW, 10 s | 0.4 mCalm to smoothW, 10 s | 0.7 mSlightSW, 10 s |
| Bristol Channel off CardiffBristol Channel | 13°C | 0.8 mSlightENE, 4 s | 0.6 mSlightENE, 6 s | 0.3 mCalm to smoothNW, 9 s | 0.2 mCalm to smoothW, 10 s | 0.1 mCalm to smoothW, 9 s |
| Cardigan Bay off AberystwythIrish Sea | 12°C | 0.4 mCalm to smoothNE, 6 s | 0.3 mCalm to smoothESE, 9 s | 0.2 mCalm to smoothSW, 10 s | 0.1 mCalm to smoothWSW, 10 s | 0.3 mCalm to smoothWNW, 10 s |
| Liverpool BayIrish Sea | 12°C | 0.7 mSlightNE, 3 s | 0.6 mSlightENE, 3 s | 0.3 mCalm to smoothENE, 4 s | 0.0 mCalm to smoothNW, 6 s | 0.1 mCalm to smoothWNW, 3 s |
| Belfast Lough approachesNorth Channel | 13°C | 0.6 mSlightE, 4 s | 0.8 mSlightE, 4 s | 0.7 mSlightE, 4 s | 0.2 mCalm to smoothENE, 3 s | 0.2 mCalm to smoothNNE, 3 s |
| Firth of Forth off EdinburghNorth Sea | 10°C | 0.2 mCalm to smoothENE, 5 s | 0.5 mSlightENE, 3 s | 0.3 mCalm to smoothENE, 4 s | 0.2 mCalm to smoothENE, 4 s | 0.2 mCalm to smoothENE, 4 s |
| Aberdeen coastNorth Sea | 12°C | 0.5 mCalm to smoothE, 5 s | 0.9 mSlightESE, 5 s | 0.9 mSlightESE, 5 s | 0.9 mSlightESE, 5 s | 0.9 mSlightESE, 5 s |
| Tynemouth and NorthumberlandNorth Sea | 11°C | 1.0 mSlightENE, 5 s | 1.2 mSlightE, 5 s | 1.2 mSlightE, 5 s | 1.0 mSlightE, 5 s | 0.8 mSlightENE, 5 s |
| North Norfolk coastNorth Sea | 12°C | 1.3 mModerateENE, 5 s | 1.2 mSlightENE, 5 s | 0.8 mSlightENE, 5 s | 0.6 mSlightNE, 5 s | 0.4 mCalm to smoothNNE, 5 s |
| The Minch off StornowayThe Minch | 12°C | 0.1 mCalm to smoothNW, 6 s | 0.2 mCalm to smoothENE, 4 s | 0.3 mCalm to smoothE, 5 s | 0.1 mCalm to smoothNNE, 8 s | 0.1 mCalm to smoothNNE, 9 s |
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated . Open-Meteo marine models (wave models from national weather services); a point forecast just offshore
Coastal weather: questions
Is this a shipping or inshore waters forecast?
No. It is a model forecast for a single point just off each stretch of coast, useful for planning a walk, a swim or a day on the beach. For going to sea, use the Met Office shipping and inshore waters forecasts and local harbour information.
What is the difference between waves and swell?
Wind waves are raised by the local wind and are short and choppy. Swell has travelled from storms far away: longer, smoother and more powerful at the shore. A long wave period (over about 10 seconds) usually means swell, and bigger surf on exposed beaches.
When is the sea warmest around the UK?
Late August to early September, after a summer of warming. It is coldest in late February and March. The south-west is usually warmest, the North Sea coast and Shetland coldest.