Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A complex area of low pressure centred near Iceland will bring a very strong southwesterly flow across the United Kingdom with squally showers and strong winds or gales, but severe gales for some northern waters. During Thursday, a band of rain sweeps southeastwards, with gales and severe gales affecting most areas.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly backing southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north and later in south. To the north and west of Orkney, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in east. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times later. Rough or very rough to the north and west of Orkney, slight or moderate in Moray Firth, moderate or rough elsewhere. Squally showers, perhaps wintry. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first then increasing gale 8 at times, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time later. Slight or moderate until later in south, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Mainly fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 for a time at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first offshore. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later. Slight, becoming moderate later. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6, then backing southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first offshore. Fair then rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly backing southwesterly, 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east. Rain for a time, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in east. Moderate, occasionally slight in east, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate, becoming mainly rough later. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time. Rain at times, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: West backing southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in lyme bay and very rough west of the Lizard peninsula. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: West backing southwest, 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough, but mainly moderate in far east. Rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: West 5 or 6 backing southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: West 5 or 6 backing southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later. Moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 5 or 6, backing southwest 7 or gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. Mainly fair, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain at first then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 4 to 6 backing southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough in far north, elsewhere slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Squally showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far north. Rain then squally showers, perhaps wintry. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly 5 or 6 backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate at first except near Mull of Kintyre, otherwise moderate or rough. Squally showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in far north. Rain then squally showers, perhaps wintry. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly 5 to 7 backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north. Moderate or rough in sheltered east, otherwise very rough or high. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times. Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east. Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West backing southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south and later in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near entrances. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering west 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near entrances, becoming slight or moderate later in central areas. Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West backing southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south and later in north. Very rough or high, occasionally rough near Sutherland. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering west 5 to 7 later. Very rough or high, occasionally rough near Sutherland. Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times later. Very rough or high, occasionally rough in sheltered east. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Wednesday 11 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC until Thursday 12 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Deep low between the Faeroes and Iceland moves away NE this afternoon, with another low following a similar track on Thursday morning.

Forecast: Southwest, backing south later, 6 to gale 8 Very rough or high, but rough in sheltered eastern waters Showers, rain later Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Thursday 12 Mar until 1200 UTC on Thursday 12 Mar: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later Very rough or high, but rough in sheltered eastern waters Rain then showers Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 4 to 5, locally 6 until evening, backing southwest by midnight, increasing 5 to 6 with gusts to 35kt around dawn, occasionally 7 mid-channel later. Rough in the north and west at first and again later, otherwise moderate to rather rough, decreasing slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell for a time overnight. Isolated showers, mostly dying out by dusk. Good, locally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 6, occasionally 7 in the northwest of the area, perhaps briefly gale 8 mid-channel overnight, veering west 5 to 6 by dawn on Friday. Slight to moderate in the southeast with a low to moderate swell, rather rough to rough elsewhere, occasionally very rough mid-channel overnight. Rain spreading eastwards overnight, locally heavy, clearing to scattered showers later. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor at times.