Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A complex area of low pressure running to the northwest of the United Kingdom will keep the weather very unsettled during forecast period. Spells of rain or showers will affect all areas, and gale or severe gale force winds are expected in the northwest, with storm force winds for a time in far northwest.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, perhaps severe gale 9 for a time later, veering southwest later. Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high to the west and north of Orkney, elsewhere, slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, backing south at times, 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 at times. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, west and north of Orkney, elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Moray Firth. Squally showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South veering southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time. Rain for a time, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time near Rattray Head. Rain for a time, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north. Slight or moderate. Rain for a time. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time in north. Showers. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South veering southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 for a time. Slight, occasionally moderate. Rain for a time. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast. Rain later. Moderate or good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Mainly slight, becoming slight or moderate. Rain at times, then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southwesterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 in south. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Showers. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7, veering westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time. Rain at times, then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Showers. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7, then veering west 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time. Rain at first, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west, 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west. Slight or moderate at first in east and later in lyme bay, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later west of Lizard Point. Rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Rough or very rough in west, elsewhere, moderate or rough, but slight at first in lyme bay. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east and very rough at times in west. Rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 or 6, backing southwest 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough, but slight or moderate in far east. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: South veering west or southwest, 5 to 7. Moderate or rough. Rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally slight east of Anglesey. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: South veering southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Moderate or rough. Rain, then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 or gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering west or southwest, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later. Rain or drizzle at first, then mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 or 6, backing south or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later, veering or southwest 6 or 7 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time later. Fair, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time in north. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough west of rathlin. Occasional rain, then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Rough or very rough west of rathlin, elsewhere slight or moderate, becoming rough at times. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near Mull of Kintyre, decreasing 4 at times later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight north and east of arran, and very rough for a time near Mull of Kintyre. Rain, then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly backing southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight north and east of arran. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 7 or gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later in west, occasionally very high for a time in northwest. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest, 7 or gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times. Very rough or high, but moderate or rough in sheltered east. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast veering west, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough south of skye. Rain or showers, becoming squally. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later. Occasionally slight east of skye, otherwise moderate or rough, but rough or very rough in entrances. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast veering west, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high. Rain or showers, becoming squally. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough near Sutherland, but elsewhere very rough or high. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast, 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Tuesday 10 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC until Wednesday 11 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Deep areas of low pressure will track between northwest Scotland and Iceland.

Forecast: South or southeast 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Wednesday 11 Mar until 1800 UTC on Wednesday 11 Mar: South or southeast veering southwest, 7 to severe gale 9. Rough or very rough, becoming high in west. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southwest 4 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 by midnight, veering west to northwest 4 to 5 by dawn, occasionally 6. Smooth or slight with a low swell, soon increasing moderate to rather rough, occasionally rough in the north and west. Occasional rain, risk heavy with mist patches overnight showers from dawn. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor for a time overnight.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 4 to 5, backing southwest 5 to 6 shortly after midnight, occasionally 7 and gusty later. Rather rough to rough, decreasing slight to moderate in the southeast by midnight with a moderate swell. Isolated showers at first occasional rain later, locally heavy. Good, occasionally moderate.