Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure over the North Sea will continue to decline. Meanwhile an area of low pressure to the southwest of Ireland will bring spells of rain and showers to western areas, some of which could be heavy and thundery. This spreads northeastwards this evening, with further rain or showers expected through Saturday and into Sunday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Variable, 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Moderate north and west of Orkney, elsewhere smooth or slight. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, decreasing 2 to 4 later in south, but backing westerly 3 or 4 later in north. Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: South or southeast, veering southwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South or southeast, veering west or southwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair, then rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in north. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Southeast veering west or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 2 later. Smooth or slight. Showers for a time, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming northeast, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly veering southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers for a time, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in southeast. Rain or showers, thundery later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly veering southwesterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Showers and fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers, thundery later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less later, becoming southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers and fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast backing east, becoming cyclonic later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later. Moderate at first near Isles of Scilly, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less,. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: West or southwest backing south or southeast, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming west or northwest 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then north 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first and later in east. Smooth or slight. Showers, fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in west, otherwise variable 3 or less, becoming north 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: South 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight. Showers with fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time. Slight or moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less in north, but southerly 3 to 5 elsewhere, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northerly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in North Channel, becoming variable 3 or less for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable then northerly or northeasterly later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, but smooth at times in sheltered east. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Slight or moderate, but smooth at times in sheltered east, occasionally rough for a time in west. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4 in south, but 4 to 6 in north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4 in south, but 4 to 6 in north. Moderate, occasionally slight near Ardnamurchan Point. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally slight near Ardnamurchan Point, occasionally rough for a time in west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering northwest 2 to 4, veering northeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight east of Shetland. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland

Valid Friday 01 May 2026 at 1200 UTC until Saturday 02 May 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: High pressure centred in the southern North Sea declines southeast as a weak weather front crosses Shetland Waters through Friday.

Forecast: Southwest veering northwest 2 to 4 Moderate, becoming slight just east of shetland Rain at times Good, occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Saturday 02 May until 1200 UTC on Saturday 02 May: Northwest 2 to 4 veering northeast 4 to 6 Moderate, but slight to the east of shetland Rain at times Good, occasionally moderate

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Westerly or variable 1 to 3, occasionally northerly 4 near the normandy coast today, generally becoming east to northeast 3 to 4 overnight, then variable cyclonic 2 to 5 tomorrow morning. Smooth, locally slight at times. Mist or fog patches developing overnight rain or showers later, locally heavy and perhaps thundery. Good, becoming moderate to poor later, perhaps locally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 2 to 4, locally 5 at times, veering southerly by dusk, then westerly by dawn Sunday, becoming variable 1 to 3 later. Smooth, locally slight at times. Rain or showers, locally heavy and perhaps thundery, clearing by late evening, perhaps returning towards midday Sunday mist or fog patches at times. Moderate or good, locally poor or very poor at times.