Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure currently centred over southern Scandinavia will gradually edge westwards across the northern North Sea during the next couple of days, bringing mainly settled conditions to the Scottish coastal waters. Further south a cold east to northeasterly airflow will prevail, with strong locally gale force winds affecting southern areas.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Caithness and Orkney, becoming variable 3 or less in northwest and in Moray Firth. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, and also slight at first in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain at times, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less in west but southerly 3 to 5 in east. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, mainly slight or moderate elsewhere, but occasionally rough at first near northern Orkney. Mainly fair. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first near Rattray Head. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming east or southeast 2 to 4. Moderate becoming slight. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 4 or 5, decreasing 3 at times later. Moderate. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 or 4 backing east 4 or 5. Moderate, occasionally slight in north. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south. Moderate, occasionally rough. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6. Moderate. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in north, increasing gale 8 at times in south. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 in west and 7 in east, perhaps gale 8 later in east. Moderate, occasionally slight at first in west, becoming moderate or rough later. Fair. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in west. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in far west, increasing gale 8 at times elsewhere. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later near Start Point and Prawle Point. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Showers then fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Start Point, Prawle Point and Lizard Point. Showers later in west. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in Bristol Channel. Slight or moderate. Showers then fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then increasing gale 8 at times. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in far west. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 to 6. Smooth or slight in Cardigan Bay and Caernarfon Bay, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight in Cardigan Bay and Caernarfon Bay, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south and 3 in north. Slight or moderate near Great Orme Head, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in north. Slight or moderate near Great Orme Head, and later also in Liverpool Bay, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight, occasionally moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Easterly 3 or 4, occasionally 2 at first, then increasing 5 at times in south. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Showers then fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in North Channel. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in North Channel. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate in far north.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in south, becoming variable 2 at times in north. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in west. Showers then fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in south, becoming variable 2 at times in north. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later. Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4 in south, but in north, southwesterly 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later. Moderate or rough to the west of the Outer Hebrides, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain at times, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4 in south, but in north, southwesterly 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first to the west of the Outer Hebrides. Fair. Good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 5 or 6 veering south or southwest 4 or 5. Moderate or rough. Rain at times, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate until later.

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

Valid Tuesday 23 Dec 2025 at 1200 UTC until Wednesday 24 Dec 2025 at 0000 UTC

General situation: A ridge of high pressure will build over Shetland waters.

Forecast: Southeast 5 or 6 veering south or southwest 4 or 5. Rough. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Wednesday 24 Dec until 1200 UTC on Wednesday 24 Dec: South or southwest 4 or 5. Moderate or rough. Rain dying out. Moderate or good.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 3 to 5, soon increasing 5 to 6, further increasing 6 to 7 overnight, perhaps gale 8 in the north of the area later. Slight to moderate with a low swell, increasing moderate to rather rough this evening, further increasing rough in the north overnight. Patchy rain, mainly in the west of the area at first. Good, perhaps locally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 6 to gale 8 with gusts to 55kt, veering east 5 to 7 with gusts to 45kt later. Rather rough to rough, locally moderate in the southeast. Patchy rain spreading west after midnight, with sleet or snow likely for a time, mainly in the south close to the French coast. Good, occasionally moderate to poor, mainly in the south.