Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A mainly southwesterly airflow will dominate over the next couple of days, bringing strong winds at times to many areas, especially in the west, where there is a risk of gales. Mainly fair for much of Thursday in the south and east, however a front will bring a band of rain into western areas which will weaken as it slowly progresses eastwards, with showers following in the west on Friday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 3 at times later. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough north and west of Orkney. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, then increasing 6 or 7 in north, occasionally gale 8 near Cape Wrath. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough north and west of Orkney. Showers mainly in northwest. Good, occasionally moderate in northwest.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, backing south 5 to 7, veering southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate, occasionally rough in north and slight in south. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest backing south or southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest backing south or southeast, 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate in north. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Rain for a time. Moderate or good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later. Smooth or slight in the wash and Thames estuary, slight or moderate elsewhere. Showers later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly, veering northwesterly later, then backing southwesterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Showers later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering westerly or southwesterly, then northwesterly for a time later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough later. Rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 4 to 6, veering northwest, then backing southwest later, 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in west, veering northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west. Fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, backing westerly 2 or 3, then southwesterly 5 or 6 later. Mainly very rough in areas west of the Lizard peninsula, but elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally slight in lyme bay. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first in east.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly, 4 to 6 in east and 6 to gale 8 in west, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east, occasionally slight in inner Bristol Channel. Fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in west. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Bristol Channel and very rough near west Cornwall. Showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest backing south, 6 to gale 8, veering north or northwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later in west, becoming slight or moderate later in northeast. Rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing south or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in north and rough in west. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in southeast and gale 8 at first in northwest, veering northwesterly 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in south, becoming mainly slight later. Fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later except in far north. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later. Mainly rough in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in north and later in south. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Clyde and rough near Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in northwest. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east and high west of Tiree. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in south, then increasing gale 8 at times in northwest. Mainly high west of Tiree, but elsewhere rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5, then increasing 6 or 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in southwest, becoming slight at times just north of skye. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough occasionally slight. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5, then increasing 6 or 7 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high west of the Outer Hebrides. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 6 to gale 8. Very rough or high, but rough or very rough near Sutherland. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in shelter to the east of Shetland. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Thursday 11 Dec 2025 at 0600 UTC until Thursday 11 Dec 2025 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Southwest flow backs South ahead of an Atlantic trough arriving from the west from late Thursday evening.

Forecast: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, backing south or southwest 4 to 6 Rough or very rough, high at first in northwest. Occasional rain at first Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Thursday 11 Dec until 0600 UTC on Friday 12 Dec: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in east Rough or very rough Occasional rain later Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southwest 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6, soon backing south to southeast, increasing 5 to 6 by dusk. Slight to moderate with low to moderate swell, increasing rather rough mid-channel in the evening. Mist or fog, mainly in the east or the area, generally clearing by mid afternoon, perhaps returning near french coasts overnight isolated showers by evening, rain after midnight, perhaps locally heavy. Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South to southeast 5 to 6, perhaps locally 7, soon veering northwest 4 to 5, decreasing 3 to 4 by dusk, becoming variable 1 to 3 by midnight. Slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell, occasionally rather rough mid-channel at first. Rain, perhaps locally heavy, soon clearing risk of mist patches near the french coast at first risk of showers later. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.