Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A deep Atlantic low to the northwest of Scotland will bring gales or severe gales at first to the northwest, before moving away northeastwards on Thursday afternoon. Northwestern areas will see squally showers at first, whilst rain or drizzle will move northwards from the south through the day. A second, shallower low then approaches the northwest of Scotland on Friday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally gale 9 at first mainly in north, veering westerly 6 or 7 later, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high for a time in north, then becoming slight later in the Moray Firth. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7, then decreasing 4 at times later. Moderate or rough in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then backing south 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in north. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times in south. Smooth or slight near firths of Tay and Forth, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate offshore. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Slight, occasionally moderate. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, then decreasing 3 at times later near shore. Slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate, becoming mainly slight. Occasional drizzle at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly, backing southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, then decreasing mainly 3 later. Moderate, occasionally slight later. Occasional drizzle at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, backing southeast for a time, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times mainly in west. Slight or moderate, but mainly rough in far southwest. Occasional drizzle until later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near the Isles of Scilly. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near the Isles of Scilly. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly later, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times in west. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Bristol Channel. Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, then becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later. Moderate or rough, but mainly slight near great orme head. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5, then veering northwest later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first except near great orme head. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest backing south for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Fair, then occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4, then veering west later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest, 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Moderate, becoming slight or moderate, then moderate or rough later. Fair at first, then occasional rain and drizzle. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4, veering west or southwest later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight later. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, backing southerly 3 to 5 later, then increasing 6 at times later in east. Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times in far north and later in southeast. Rain at times later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later in far northwest. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in south, becoming mainly slight later except in far northwest. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Mull of Kintyre. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Mainly fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 3 to 5 later, then veering southwest 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north, then becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 4 to 6 later, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then becoming east or southeast 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south and far north, then becoming slight later in central areas. Squally showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 or 5, veering southwest 6 or 7, then veering north later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near northern and southern entrances. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 4 to 6 later, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then becoming east or southeast 4 or 5 later. Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, then occasionally moderate later near Ardnamurchan Point. Squally showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 or 5, veering southwest 6 or 7, then veering north later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 to 6, veering south or southwest 5 to 7, then veering northwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in south and west. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Thursday 18 Sep 2025 at 0000 UTC until Thursday 18 Sep 2025 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Atlantic low centred northwest of the Western Isles will move east across Shetland Waters on Thursday.

Forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in south. southeasterly in north at first. becoming cyclonic 3 or 4 later in northwest. Moderate in east at first, otherwise rough, becoming very rough in west Occasional rain Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Thursday 18 Sep until 0000 UTC on Friday 19 Sep: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south at first, and 3 or 4 in north at first. becoming north or northwest 3 or 4 later. Mainly rough, but very rough in south and west at first. occasionally moderate later in south. Occasional rain at first Good, occasionally moderate or poor at first

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 5, locally 6 in the north of the area at first, generally decreasing 3 to 4 by midday, becoming variable 1 to 3 from mid-afternoon. Slight to moderate with a low swell, becoming smooth or slight with a low swell later. Patchy drizzle until mid-morning. Local mist patches.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast or variable 1 to 3, becoming west to southwest 3 to 4 by morning, becoming variable 1 to 3 later. Smooth or slight with a low swell. Risk of mist patches at first and again later. Good, perhaps locally moderate to poor at times.