Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Low pressure moves northeastwards from the southwest, introducing a more unsettled regime. Spells of rain and showers will spread northeastwards across most waters through tonight and this weekend. The showers may be thundery at times and some mist or fog patches will develop in places.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable, 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 in north later. Slight or moderate, but smooth at first in Moray Firth. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly southwest, 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly southwest, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: West becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then north 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, increasing moderate for a time. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Westerly becoming variable 2 to 4, then easterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers later, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later, then northerly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time in southeast. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5, then variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, mainly southwest, 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: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. 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: Southerly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in west. 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: Southerly or southwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly 2 to 4 later, occasionally 5 later in south. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

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

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight, becoming smooth or slight. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Rain at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first, becoming good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly south, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

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

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

24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly southwesterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, but smooth at times in sheltered east. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but smooth at times in sheltered east. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Moderate, occasionally slight. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time in west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

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

General situation: A weak cold front moves southeast over Shetland Waters early on Saturday, then following this a ridge builds from the northwest.

Forecast: North or northeast 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 Moderate, but slight to the east of shetland Rain at times Good, occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Saturday 02 May until 0000 UTC on Sunday 03 May: North or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later Moderate Fair Good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 3 to 4 overnight, occasionally southerly 4 to 5 especially in the south of the area later, veering south to southwest later. 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: South to southwest 3 to 4, veering west to northwest 2 to 3 later. Smooth, locally slight at times. Mist or fog patches at times rain or showers perhaps towards midday Sunday. Moderate or good, locally poor or very poor at times.