Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A ridge bringing light winds and mainly fair conditions lies over the United Kingdom at first. However, rain and strong winds will move into many northern and western areas during the day, spreading southeastwards overnight into Friday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north and later in east. Wintry showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly veering westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far north and slight in Moray Firth. Rain then showers, wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then south or southeast 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South veering west or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, veering west 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southerly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in northeast. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in east, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in south. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in east. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 or 5, variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming mainly moderate, occasionally rough later. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight in lyme bay, slight or moderate elsewhere, occasionally rough later in west. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in west. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally smooth in inner Bristol Channel at first. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Bristol Channel. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in south. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except east of Anglesey. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west or northwest 4 to 6, backing west or southwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west. Rain at times, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 4 or 5, veering south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight, becoming moderate or rough later. Fair, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, veering west or southwest 4 or 5 decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming mainly slight later. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south then veering west later, 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in south, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers at first, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Rain or showers, perhaps squally. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly then veering westerly later, 5 or 6 later, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough in North Channel. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Mull of Galloway and Mull of Kintyre. Rain or showers, perhaps squally. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later, veering west later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough later in west. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate in sheltered east, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west. Rain or showers, wintry at times later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 2 or 3, increasing 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in central areas at first, becoming moderate or rough later. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances. Rain or showers, wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 2 or 3, increasing 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers, wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate in shelter to the east of Shetland, moderate or rough elsewhere, occasionally very rough later in west. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland - Strong wind warning

Valid Thursday 02 Apr 2026 at 0600 UTC until Thursday 02 Apr 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: A transient ridge is replaced by an area of low pressure moving northeastwards over Scotland.

Forecast: Northerly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6 in the west later. Moderate or rough, slight just east of shetland. Showers becoming fair. Good occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Thursday 02 Apr until 0600 UTC on Friday 03 Apr: Variable 2 to 4 in east but southeasterly 4 to 6 in the west, becoming southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9. Moderate or rough, slight just east of shetland at first, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high in west later. Fair at first then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North to northwest 4 to 5, backing west 3 to 4 by late afternoon, further backing southwest 4 to 5 after midnight, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, increasing moderate early Friday morning, with a low swell throughout. Occasional rain and drizzle in the south and east of the area at first rain and drizzle spreading from the west after midnight. Good or very good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6, veering west towards dusk, backing southwest later. Slight to moderate with a low swell, occasionally rather rough mainly mid-channel. Occasional rain and drizzle, perhaps with mist patches. Good or very good, occasionally moderate, perhaps poor.