Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A mainly southeasterly airflow will persist as areas of low pressure approach from the southwest, bringing further rain or showers to all areas. Winds will be strong at times, especially in the north and west, with gales for some western waters, and developing in the far north later.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times in east. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in inner Moray Firth, becoming very rough at times in east. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, decreasing 4 at times later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in Firth of Forth and gale 8 near Rattray Head. Rough, occasionally moderate in south and very rough in north. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later in south. Rough, occasionally moderate in Firth of Forth and very rough in north. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate, becoming mainly rough later in north. Rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate, occasionally rough in north. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 for a time. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair, then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west. Fair then rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 5 or 6, veering south or southwest 3 to 5 for a time, then increasing 7 at times later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. Occasional rain, showers for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, becoming northwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 6 or 7 at first in east, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, but very rough or high west of the Lizard peninsula. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east and high at first west of the Lizard peninsula. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 to gale 8, veering south or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east, becoming rough or very rough in west, then high for a time later near Lands End. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming west 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west. Rain or showers, squally at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeast veering south, then backing east later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in northeast and very rough later near St Davids Head. Occasional rain, showers for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East backing northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough in south and slight in north. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in west, then decreasing 4 at times later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest. Rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later. Fair, then rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast backing east or northeast, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate, becoming slight later. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast, backing east or northeast for a time, 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in North Channel. Moderate or rough in North Channel, slight or moderate elsewhere, occasionally smooth in Firth of Clyde. Fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5. Smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south and west. Mainly slight in sheltered east, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later west of Tiree. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Very rough at first west of Tiree, otherwise moderate or rough, but mainly slight in sheltered east. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight just east and north of skye, occasionally rough later near south entrance. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight just east and north of skye, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far southwest. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near Sutherland and very rough later in far southwest. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Slight or moderate near Sutherland, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far west. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Rough or very rough, but mainly moderate in shelter in northwest. Wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

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

Valid Thursday 29 Jan 2026 at 1800 UTC until Friday 30 Jan 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Strong southeasterly flow will persist across Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southeast 6 or 7 Rough occasionally very rough Wintry showers Moderate or good, occasionally poor or very poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 30 Jan until 1800 UTC on Friday 30 Jan: Southeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later in southeast Rough or very rough Wintry showers Moderate or good, occasionally poor or very poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southeast 5 to 6, locally 7 mid-channel, veering southwest 4 to 5 by midnight, backing south to southeast 5 to 6 Friday morning, increasing 6 to 7, perhaps gale 8, later. Slight to moderate, with a low to moderate swell, occasionally rather rough in the north and west, increasing rather rough to rough later. Occasional rain, clearing to isolated showers by midnight, risk of mist of fog patches mainly near french coast around midnight rain or showers later. Good, locally moderate, perhaps poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 6 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in the north and west, veering southwest during the evening, veering southwest to west 5 to 6 during the morning, further veering west to northwest 4 to 5 later. Rather rough to rough, increasing rough to very rough in the evening, perhaps high in the west for a time, decreasing rather rough to rough later. Occasional rain or showers, locally heavy. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps poor.