Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A strong westerly or southwesterly flow will affect the coastal waters into the weekend, with rain or showers at times. Gales are expected during Saturday over western and northern Scotland. Winds will decrease during Sunday, as a ridge of high pressure builds.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and northwest. Rough or very rough in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain, then showers, squally at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Rattray Head. Squally showers, fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 for a time. Slight or moderate. Rain, then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest, 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time near Rattray Head. Showers, fair later. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest, 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate offshore. Rain, then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west, 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate offshore. Showers, fair later. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 3 to 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate until later offshore. Rain, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight, occasionally smooth near shore. Showers, fair later. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south and 3 later in north. Slight or moderate. Rain at first, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, 5 or 6 in south, but 3 to 5 in north, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor for a time.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in east. Mainly moderate. Rain at first, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 2 later. Moderate becoming slight, occasionally smooth later. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain at first, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 2 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far west. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Occasionally rough at first near Isles of Scilly, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in lyme bay. Rain at first, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, veering west 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Bristol Channel. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest veering northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle at first, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest veering northwest, 3 to 5, backing southwest, 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth later in north. Rain at first, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first and slight at times later. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth later. Showers, fair later. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, veering west 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming fair. Moderate becoming good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 or 6, veering west or northwest, 3 or 4 later. Moderate becoming slight later. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in north. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, backing westerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough in north, elsewhere slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth later. Showers, fair later. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Mull of Kintyre. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near Mull of Galloway and Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Mull of Kintyre, backing westerly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later near Mull of Kintyre, becoming slight, occasionally smooth later. Showers, fair later. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 or 7, occasionally 5 at first and gale 8 for a time. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east. Showers, squally at times. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West veering northwest, 6 or 7, decreasing 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east. Showers, fair later. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering southwesterly 6 or 7, increasing 7 or gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight east of skye and very rough at times near entrances. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near entrances, becoming slight or moderate in central areas. Squally showers, fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering southwesterly 6 or 7, increasing 7 or gale 8. Very rough, occasionally rough. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Very rough, occasionally rough. Squally showers, fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South veering southwest 6 or 7, occasionally 5 at first. Rough or very rough, but occasionally moderate in lee shelter east of Shetland. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Friday 18 Sep 2026 at 1800 UTC until Saturday 19 Sep 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: A series of lows track east over the Faroes maintaining a strong, showery west or southwesterly airstream over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: South or southwest 6 or 7, occasionally 5 at first. Moderate or rough, later very rough in the west. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Saturday 19 Sep until 1800 UTC on Saturday 19 Sep: Southwest 6 or 7. Very rough but moderate or rough in sheltered waters east of shetland. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6 in the north from early evening. Slight to moderate with a low swell, occasionally rather rough in the north. Patchy light rain or drizzle with a risk of mist patches, spreading eastwards after midnight, mostly clearing by midday. Good, occasionally moderate later, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to southwest 4 to 5, locally 2 to 3 in the far south of the area, veering northwest to north 2 to 4 by mid-morning. Slight to moderate, locally rather rough mid-channel at first, decreasing smooth to slight by mid-morning a low swell throughout. Patchy rain or drizzle spreading eastwards after midnight, with a risk of mist patches and coastal fog, clearing around midday Sunday. Good, occasionally moderate to poor from midnight until midday.