Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

Issued by the Met Office at

Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
to

General situation

An area of low pressure over the eastern English Channel will move away south during Sunday night, with the strong northerly airflow over some western waters decreasing. A ridge of high pressure will follow from the northwest by Monday. Following this strong westerly or southwesterly winds will affect northern waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, becoming rough in northwest. Mainly fair, occasional rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, veering west or northwest, 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in north. Rough in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in the Moray Firth. Rain and drizzle then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.


Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Moderate, occasionally slight later. Mainly fair. Good occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, then decreasing 3 or less later in south. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth in south. Occasional rain at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.


Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: North or northeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first near Whitby, backing west or southwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate, becoming slight later. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, veering northwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.


Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: North, backing west or southwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Moderate becoming slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, veering northwest, 2 to 4. Slight occasionally smooth. Rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.


Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Northerly, becoming variable later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far north. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming northerly or northwesterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.


North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming westerly or northwesterly, 2 to 4. Smooth occasionally slight. Mainly fair. Good occasionally poor.


Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth occasionally slight. Thundery showers then mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming west or northwest, 2 to 4. Smooth, occasionally slight later. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.


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

24 hour forecast: Northerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, backing westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 later. In far west rough becoming moderate, otherwise smooth or slight. Mainly fair, showers at first in east. Good occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly, veering northerly later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far west. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.


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

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, backing west or northwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near Lands End, becoming smooth in the inner Bristol Channel. Showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest, veering north later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasional smooth in the Bristol Channel. Rain and drizzle for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.


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

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth later in north. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near St Davids Head. Rain or drizzle for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.


Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: North or northwest, backing west or southwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far west. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, becoming variable later, 2 to 4, but becoming northwest 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Rain and drizzle for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.


Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 2 to 4, veering northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Rain for a time. Good occasionally moderate.


Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: North or northwest, backing southwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers at first, rain and drizzle later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 2 to 4, veering northwest 3 to 5 for a time. Moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at first. Moderate or poor becoming good.


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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly, backing southwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in the North Channel. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in the North Channel. Showers at first, rain and drizzle later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, veering northwesterly 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Rain or drizzle at first. Moderate or poor becoming good.


Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or less, then backing southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later. Rain and drizzle later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough. Showers then fair, rain and drizzle at first. Moderate or poor becoming good.


The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming southwesterly, 2 to 4, then increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first near skye. Rain and drizzle later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far north. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later near skye and the shiant isles. Showers then fair, rain and drizzle at first. Moderate or poor becoming good.


Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming southwesterly, 2 to 4, then increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Moderate becoming rough. Rain and drizzle later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far north. Rough occasionally moderate. Showers then fair, rain and drizzle at first. Moderate or poor becoming good.


Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming southwest, 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later in east. Rain and drizzle. Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.

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

Valid Sunday 23 Mar 2025 at 1800 UTC until Monday 24 Mar 2025 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Ridge of high builds over Shetland waters Sunday night, then an Icelandic low moves towards the area on Monday.

Forecast: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwesterly, occasionally 7 later in the north. Rough or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Monday 24 Mar until 1800 UTC on Monday 24 Mar: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in the southwest. Rough but moderate in the east. Rain or drizzle. Moderate or poor.


Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: North 2 to 4, veering northeast overnight, locally 5 in the north and west of the area until dawn. Smooth or slight with a low swell, perhaps moderate in the west of the area later. Isolated showers mist or fog patches clearing on Monday. Good, occasionally moderate or poor, perhaps locally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 4, backing northwest by early Tuesday, decreasing 2 to 3 later. Smooth or slight with a low swell, decreasing later. Fair. Good.