Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The United Kingdom will lie in a mainly southeasterly airflow during the next 24 hours, with many places having either rain or showers.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in Moray Firth. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain or showers, becoming fair in west. Good, occasionally moderate in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 in Moray Firth but increasing 6 for a time later near Cape Wrath. Smooth or slight at first in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate, but occasionally rough later in north. Rain at times in east. Good, occasionally poor in east.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in north, becoming variable 2 at times in south. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time in south. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less except in far north. Slight or moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time at first. Slight, occasionally smooth in south. Rain at times, mainly later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 2 to 4, veering south or southeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in far north. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, then decreasing 2 at times. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north and smooth later in south. Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches. Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly for a time, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain, mainly in north, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first and 2 later. Smooth or slight. Rain at times, mainly at first in north, fog patches in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise smooth or slight. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly veering southeasterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East or southeast, backing northeast for a time, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly in east, 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Rough at first from Lizard Point westwards, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, then rain in east. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in west. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east but rough later to the west of Land's End. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, then becoming variable 3 or less except near Pembrokeshire. Moderate or rough at first in west, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, then rain in east. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 3 or 4 in west, variable 3 or less in east. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east but becoming rough later near Cornwall. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor in east.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in west, becoming variable 2 at times in Cardigan Bay, Caernarfon Bay and to the east of Anglesey. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in north. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in west, becoming variable 2 at times in Cardigan Bay, Caernarfon Bay and to the east of Anglesey. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 2 to 4 in Morecambe Bay and Solway Firth, but elsewhere southeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north. Showers, then rain later in east. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in Liverpool Bay.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast in Morecambe Bay and Solway Firth, but elsewhere east or southeast, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in northwest. Rain at times, mainly in east. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 or 5. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 or 5 backing east or southeast 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Mainly fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first, increasing 6 at times later in north. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, then decreasing 3 at times. Slight or moderate. Showers then mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far north, otherwise southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in North Channel. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, backing easterly 2 or 3 later in far north. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 2 to 4 veering south or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in north, then backing easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then occasionally very rough later near western Tiree. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first, then increasing 5 or 6 later in west and south. Slight or moderate in west and south, smooth or slight in east and north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 6 or 7, then south or southeast 3 to 5 later. To the south and west of Skye, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first, then increasing 5 or 6 later except in far north. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight near Sutherland. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 6 or 7, then south or southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first near Sutherland but becoming rough or very rough later elsewhere. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland

Valid Saturday 17 Jan 2026 at 1800 UTC until Sunday 18 Jan 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: High pressure over Scandinavia and low pressure to the west of the UK will maintain a southeast airflow over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later Moderate Showers Good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Sunday 18 Jan until 1800 UTC on Sunday 18 Jan: Southeast 4 to 6 Moderate, becoming rough later in east Showers Good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East to southeast 2 to 3, backing northeast 3 to 4 around midnight, veering east to southeast again by dawn, decreasing 2 to 3 by midday. Smooth, locally slight, with a low swell. Rain and drizzle from around midnight, likely dying out by midday, then occasional mist or fog patches, mainly near the French coast. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor or perhaps very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to southeast 2 to 3, veering southeast to south 3 to 4 by dawn Monday, perhaps occasionally 5 near Alderney later. Smooth, locally slight, with a low swell. Patchy rain or drizzle, with mist and a risk of fog patches. Moderate, occasionally good, locally poor or perhaps very poor.