Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Low pressure centred close to north Scotland giving a cool and showery westerly flow across the inshore waters, will fill in situ, as a deeper Atlantic low moves east towards the British Isles. This will bring strengthening winds and outbreaks of rain later on Monday and more especially on Tuesday. Showers will follow the rain from the west on Tuesday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight until later in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Orkney and later near Rattray Head. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in east. Fair then rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 2 to 4, backing southeast 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth at first in south and moderate later in north. Showers in south. Good, occasionally moderate in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6 for a time, occasionally 7 later near Rattray Head. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Fair then rain, showers later. Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South or southwest backing southeast, 3 or 4, occasionally 2 at first and 5 later. Slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, veering south 4 or 5 later. Slight becoming moderate. Fair then rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7 for a time. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, then southerly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in east. Showers, perhaps thundery later in north. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 4 or 5, backing southeasterly 5 or 6, then veering southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in west. Fair then rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight in far east, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, then veering southwesterly later. Slight becoming moderate. Rain then showers, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West backing southwest, 3 to 5, then backing south 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally slight at first. Rain then showers. Moderate or poor, becoming good.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, then backing south 5 or 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough in west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South veering southwest, 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first. Moderate, occasionally rough in west and later in east, becoming very rough later near Isles of Scilly. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly later, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times in north. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough at first in west. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly veering southwesterly, 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Rain then 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: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near St Davids Head. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight. Showers then fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast veering south, then southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 or 4, backing south or southeast 5 or 6 later. Slight, becoming moderate later. Showers then fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 or 6, increasing 6 or 7, then veering south or southwest 5 or 6. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight until later in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers then fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 7, veering south 4 to 6, then southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Rain then thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre, becoming moderate later in North Channel. Showers then fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in North Channel, veering southerly 4 or 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Clyde. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough at first west of Tiree. Mainly fair, rain later in south. Good, occasionally moderate later in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, veering south 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough west of Tiree. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight near skye. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 4 to 6, veering south 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight in north and east, slight or moderate in southwest. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough at first in west. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 4 to 6, veering south 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near barra. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate, occasionally slight just northeast of Shetland. Showers at first. Good.

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

Valid Monday 18 May 2026 at 0000 UTC until Monday 18 May 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Low pressure west of the UK maintains a southeasterly flow over Shetland Waters

Forecast: Mainly south or southeast 3 to 5 Moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest. slight just east of shetland. Showers at first. Good occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Monday 18 May until 0000 UTC on Tuesday 19 May: Southeast 3 to 5 Moderate. slight just east of shetland. Mainly fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 3 to 4, locally 5, backing south to southwest by dawn, further backing south and increasing 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6. Slight to moderate, with a low swell. Occasional showers, perhaps locally heavy rain from evening, heavy later. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 to 6, veering southwest 4 to 5, perhaps occasionally 6 in the north of the area later. Slight to moderate with a low swell, increasing moderate to rather rough in the north and west, further increasing rather rough to rough mid-channel later. Rain or showers, locally heavy and perhaps misty, clearing later. Good, becoming moderate to poor for a time.