Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

As a ridge of high pressure starts to build in from the west, winds will generally become lighter across all waters. It will remain mainly fair in the south and east at first, but rain and showers will affect most western and northern waters. However heavy and thundery rain will develop across southern and southeastern waters for a time on Wednesday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly 4 to 6, but 6 or 7 at first in north, backing southwesterly, 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, but elsewhere mainly slight, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Showers. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, veering west or northwest, 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Mainly west, 2 to 4, veering northwest, 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north. Showers, occasional rain for a time in south. Good, occasionally moderate for a time in south.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable becoming east or northeast later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 4, backing north 4 to 6, then northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming mainly moderate later. Occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly veering easterly or northeasterly later, 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 or 3 for a time. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair, showers or rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, then northerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later, occasionally rough later in north and slight later in south. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming easterly or northeasterly, 2 or 3. Smooth, occasionally slight later. Mainly fair, rain or showers later. Good, occasionally poor for a time and moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly, 2 to 4, backing northerly or northwesterly, 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Occasionally rain until later, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming northeast, 2 to 4 later. Smooth, occasionally slight later. Mainly fair, rain later, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 4, backing north 5 or 6. Smooth, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain or showers until later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming mainly easterly or northeasterly later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate near Isles of Scilly. Fair at first, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 2 to 4, backing northerly or northwesterly, 5 or 6, occasionally 7 for a time in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near shore in east, becoming moderate or rough west of Lands End. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly, 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then northerly or northeasterly, 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight in Bristol Channel, otherwise slight, occasionally moderate later near st david's head. Occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first in east, backing northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time in west. Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in southwest. Occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northeast, 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in south. Occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast backing north, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in north. Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Mainly north, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: North 2 to 4. Slight. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 2 to 4, backing northwest, 5 or 6 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain at first, then mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly, veering northerly at times in south, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north, occasionally rough at first in far northwest. Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight at first in east and south, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far northwest. Rain at first in south, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first and 6 later in North Channel. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in the North Channel. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: West or northwest, 3 or 4. Moderate, occasionally rough in west and slight in east. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east. Showers. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north. Slight or moderate in central areas, becoming smooth to the east of skye, but moderate or rough near entrances. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time. Moderate or rough near entrances, otherwise slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in central areas. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time. Moderate or rough. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly, 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 4 to 6. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in shelter east of Shetland. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

Valid Tuesday 06 Oct 2026 at 0000 UTC until Tuesday 06 Oct 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: The strong, showery westerly airstream slowly eases.

Forecast: Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north Very rough until later in north and west, otherwise rough, but moderate in sheltered eastern waters Showers Mainly good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Tuesday 06 Oct until 0000 UTC on Wednesday 07 Oct: West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first Rough, but moderate in sheltered eastern waters Showers Mainly good.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 after midday. Smooth to slight. Risk of mist or fog patches near the french coast at first showers by midday, locally heavy with a risk of thunder later. Good or very good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 to 5, locally 6, backing north 5 to 6 with gusts to 35kt around midday, perhaps locally 7. Slight to moderate, increasing rather rough to rough in the afternoon. Rain and showers, locally heavy and perhaps thundery, clearing by dusk. Good, occasionally moderate to poor.