Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The United Kingdom will continue to lie in an unseasonably cool and showery north to northwesterly airflow during the next 24 hours. The wind will be strong and blustery at times, especially in the northeast. Winds will slowly ease through Friday and into the start of the weekend as a small ridge of high pressure moves east across much of the inshore waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in east, decreasing 4 or 5 later in west. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near north Orkney and Rattray Head. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly, 7 or gale 8 until later in far north, otherwise 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 later in far south. Slight or moderate at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far north. Showers, squally in far north. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 at first in far south, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate becoming rough. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North backing northwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, veering southeast 3 to 5 later. Rough becoming moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 for a time. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, backing west 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north and slight later in south. Showers. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near north Norfolk. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, then becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5. Slight, becoming smooth at times. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic, becoming westerly or southwesterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: North or northwest, backing west or northwest later, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time later. Smooth or slight. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later. Rough at first near Isles of Scilly, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east. Showers, thundery at first in east. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far west. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times in east and also later in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far east and rough at first near Lands End. Showers, perhaps thundery at first in east. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate in southwest. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest, becoming smooth or slight later in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest becoming variable, then southwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time at first in east. Slight, occasionally smooth in northeast and moderate elsewhere. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, backing southwesterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in northwest. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate occasionally rough, becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4, then backing south or southwest later. Slight or moderate becoming slight. Fair, then rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in North Channel. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in far north. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less, then southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later, then decreasing 3 at times later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north but becoming smooth or slight later in south. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later, then decreasing 3 at times later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in south. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth between barra and canna. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

Valid Thursday 14 May 2026 at 1800 UTC until Friday 15 May 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Deep low pressure moving west over southern Scandinavia maintains a strong to gale force north or northwesterly airstream over Shetland waters.

Forecast: North 7 or gale 8. Rough becoming very rough. Showers or rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 15 May until 1800 UTC on Friday 15 May: North or northwest 6 to gale 8. Very rough becoming rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6 at first, veering north 3 to 4 overnight, backing northwest 4 to 5 in the afternoon. Moderate, soon decreasing slight, with a low swell. Showers, locally heavy with a risk of hail and thunder until dusk, becoming isolated overnight. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 5, backing west 3 to 4 soon after dawn, locally 5 later. Slight. Isolated showers at first, occasional rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor or very poor later.