Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A slow-moving Atlantic low will give a strong southwesterly flow across the United Kingdom bringing gales at times to much of the inshore waters, along with rain or squally showers.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north. Rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, backing southeast for a time, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Rough or very rough to the west and north of Orkney, slight or moderate in Moray Firth, moderate or rough elsewhere. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough in north, slight or moderate in south. Rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, backing southeast then becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic then southwest, 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times offshore. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at times, fair later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, then veering southwest 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east. Fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first then increasing gale 8 at times. Slight or moderate in the wash and Thames estuary, otherwise moderate or rough. Occasional rain, fair later. Moderate or good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Fair then rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later. Rain, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time later. Moderate or rough. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 5 or 6, backing southwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east. Rain at times. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming west 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far west, becoming moderate or rough in east. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in south. Rough, occasionally very rough in west and moderate in Bristol Channel. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times but occasionally gale 8 until later. Moderate or rough in Bristol Channel, rough or very rough elsewhere. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south, becoming slight or moderate east of Anglesey. Rain, fair for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then west or southwest 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south and slight in far northeast. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6, then backing southeast 5 to 7 later. Rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain, showers for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then west or southwest 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate occasionally rough. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 or 7, veering southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 5 to 7 later. Rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming mainly moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 5 to 7, veering west or southwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming mainly rough later. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first. Moderate occasionally rough. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 to 7, veering southwest 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far north. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first. Moderate, occasionally rough in North Channel and slight in Firth of Clyde. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8. Moderate, occasionally rough in North Channel and slight in Firth of Clyde. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then increasing gale 8 at times in north. Rough or very rough, occasional moderate in sheltered east, becoming high at times in west. Squally showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough, occasional moderate in sheltered east and high in west. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Slight or moderate just northeast of skye, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far southwest. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near southern entrance and slight in central areas. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high except near Sutherland. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Rough or very rough near Sutherland, otherwise very rough or high. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in sheltered east. Rain then showers. Moderate or good.

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

Valid Wednesday 17 Dec 2025 at 1200 UTC until Thursday 18 Dec 2025 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Large low pressure system moves towards Iceland on Wednesday with a strong southwest airflow over Shetland Waters

Forecast: South 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough, but moderate to east of shetland. Rain, then showers. Good occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Thursday 18 Dec until 1200 UTC on Thursday 18 Dec: South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 Rough or very rough. Showers Good occasionally moderate

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southwest 5 to 6, occasionally 4 near brittany coast, occasionally 7 mid-channel, generally increasing 6 to 7 for a time overnight, then again late morning, with gusts to 45kt likely mid-channel. Moderate to rough, occasionally slight near brittany coast, briefly very rough mid-channel overnight. Occasional rain, locally heavy. Good, becoming mainly moderate, locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 6 to 7, increasing 7 to gale 8 for a time in the afternoon and evening, with gusts to 55kt mid-channel, veering west 5 to 6 by midnight, backing southwest 4 to 5 later. Rather rough to very rough, occasionally moderate near brittany coast, decreasing moderate to rather rough with a moderate swell after midnight. Occasional rain, locally heavy, clearing to isolated showers by midnight. Moderate or good, locally poor on Thursday, becoming mainly good by Friday.