Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The United Kingdom will lie in a strengthening south to southwesterly airflow during the next 24 hours, with strong winds gradually developing in all areas and gales expected in the northwest.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest, backing southeast for a time, 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere, slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain or showers, becoming squally later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then backing south or southwest later. To the west and north of Orkney, rough or very rough, occasionally high, elsewhere mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in Moray Firth. Squally showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough later in north. Rain at times, then showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time, then occasionally severe gale 9 later in north. Moderate or rough in north, slight or moderate in south. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4 backing south 5 to 7, veering southwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4 backing south 5 or 6, veering southwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain for a time later. Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 2 or 3 increasing 4 or 5, then increasing 6 or 7 for a time later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain, fog banks at first. Moderate to very poor becoming good, then occasionally poor again later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Rain then mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 2 or 3 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain at times, fog banks at first. Moderate to very poor becoming good, then occasionally poor again later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east, veering westerly 3 to 5 for a time. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming south or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, then veering west 4 or 5 later. Slight, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 2 or 3 at first in east, then veering westerly later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then becoming very rough later near the Isles of Scilly. Occasional rain, then showers later. Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 6 or 7 later. Rough or very rough in west, but in east, moderate or rough, becoming slight for a time. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in east, veering westerly 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough in west. Occasional rain, then showers later. Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 5 or 6, backing southwest 6 to gale 8 later. Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6 backing south 5 to 7, then veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Occasional rain, then showers later. Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6 backing south 5 to 7, then veering west or southwest later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in north. Occasional rain, then showers later. Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 or 6 increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 for a time later, then veering west or southwest later. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming good later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 or 7 decreasing 5 or 6, backing south or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, veering westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far north. Occasional rain, then squally showers later. Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later. Rough or very rough in far north, and later also in east, otherwise slight or moderate. Squally showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly, veering southwesterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Occasional rain, then squally showers later. Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, backing southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight for a time to the east and north of Arran. Squally showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later in west. Rain or showers, becoming squally later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, backing south or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west and moderate in east. Squally showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, then veering west or southwest later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight until later in east and north and occasionally very rough later in west and south. Rain or showers, becoming squally later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times. Slight or moderate to the east of Skye, elsewhere mainly moderate or rough, but occasionally very rough in west and south. Squally showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, then veering west or southwest later. Moderate or rough until later to the east of the Outer Hebrides, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later except in far north. Rain or showers, becoming squally later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times. Rough or very rough near Sutherland, but elsewhere very rough or high. Squally showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. Showers, then rain for a time later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

Valid Tuesday 10 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC until Tuesday 10 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Slow moving Icelandic low feeds a south to southwesterly flow across Shetland Waters. A new Atlantic low will approach western Scotland this evening.

Forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northwest. Rough, occasionally very rough in northwest, but moderate in sheltered waters east of Shetland. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Tuesday 10 Mar until 0600 UTC on Wednesday 11 Mar: South 5 or 6 increasing 7 or gale 8. Rough or very rough, but moderate at first in sheltered waters east of Shetland. Fair then rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming south or southwest 3 or 4 by midday, increasing 5 or 6 by mid-evening, perhaps locally 7 mid-channel, veering west 4 or 5 later. Slight, with a low swell, increasing moderate to rather rough overnight, locally rough in the west. Isolated showers, some mist or fog patches, mainly near the French coast until midday, then rain spreading eastwards after dusk, perhaps heavier later. Moderate or good, locally poor or very poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 or 5, perhaps locally 6 at first, backing southwest 5 or 6 after midnight. Moderate to rather rough, locally rough in the west. Patchy rain soon clearing to isolated shower. Good, occasionally moderate.