It’s not often you see Hurricane Force 12 in any shipping forecast let alone the Met Office’s inshore forecast!

As a deep depression sweeps across the north of the UK, Scotland is taking a battering, in particular the area, Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney, that had the following forecast issued;

Strong winds are forecast
For coastal areas up to 12 miles offshore from 1200 UTC Thu 08 Dec until 1200 UTC Fri 09 Dec

24 hour forecast:

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally 7 at first, veering northwesterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, occasionally hurricane force 12 in north, decreasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.

Sea State
Rough or very rough, becoming high except in Moray Firth, occasionally very high later in north.

Weather
Rain or squally wintry showers.

Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Elsewhere in the general shipping forecasts, violent storm 11 features in seven of the shipping areas.

Winter’s here!