Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The very cold and unstable, mainly northerly or northwesterly airflow will persist into Monday, with strong winds across most northern and eastern areas. Showers of sleet, hail and snow will be frequent in the north, but they will be more isolated across southern waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North backing northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing west 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough at first to the west and north of Orkney, otherwise mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in Moray Firth. Squally sleet or snow showers. Good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then north or northeast 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in north. Rain, sleet or snow at times. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly, veering northerly for a time at first in north, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Rattray Head and at first in south. Squally snow showers, most frequent in north. Good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then north 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near Rattray Head, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Snow showers in north, mainly fair in south, then rain or sleet. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Moderate, occasionally rough until later. Squally snow showers. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5 backing west or southwest 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Moderate, becoming slight or moderate later. Snow showers, becoming fair, then rain or sleet later. Good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly, veering northerly for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Moderate, occasionally rough in north and slight at times in south. Squally sleet or snow showers, mainly in north. Good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Sleet or snow showers, becoming fair. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames Estuary. Squally sleet and snow showers, most frequent in north. Good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6 backing westerly 3 or 4, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames Estuary. Sleet or snow showers until later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Westerly at first in east, otherwise northwesterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Sleet or snow showers for a time. Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5 backing westerly 3 or 4, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate near North Foreland, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 2 to 4 veering north or northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Sleet or snow for a time later. Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5 backing west 2 to 4, then southwest 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4 veering northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near the Isles of Scilly. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west and smooth in east. Showers, wintry at times, but sleet or rain for a time at first in west. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 3 to 5 backing southwesterly 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7 later, then veering northwesterly 5 or 6 later in west. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in Lyme Bay. Wintry showers, mainly in west. Good, occasionally poor in west.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly veering northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east and rough at first in far west. Showers, wintry at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly backing southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later, then veering northwesterly 5 or 6 later in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east. Mainly fair, then rain or sleet. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5 backing southwest 4 to 6, then veering northwest later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair, then rain or sleet. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times in Morecambe Bay and Solway Firth, and later also elsewhere. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Morecambe Bay and Solway Firth. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 or 4 backing west or southwest 4 to 6, then veering north or northwest again later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in Morecambe Bay and Solway Firth. Mainly fair, then rain or sleet. Good, occasionally poor in west and south.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Wintry showers at first. Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5 backing southwest 5 to 7, then veering northwest again later. Slight becoming moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, backing westerly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north and smooth later in far south. Sleet or snow showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 or 4 backing southwest 4 to 6, then veering north or northwest later. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain or sleet at times. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in North Channel, backing westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate in North Channel, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Sleet or snow showers, mainly in North Channel. Good, occasionally poor in North Channel.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 3 to 5 backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then veering northwesterly later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain or sleet at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing west or northwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west but becoming smooth or slight in shelter. Sleet or snow showers, squally at first, then rain or sleet later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5 backing west or southwest 4 to 6, then veering north later. Smooth or slight at first in shelter, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain or sleet at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 5 to 7 backing northwest 4 or 5, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later. In north, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, but in central and southern areas, slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Sleet or snow showers, squally at first, then rain or sleet later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming northeast 5 to 7 later, then backing north 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming moderate or rough later in north. Rain, sleet or snow at times. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 5 to 7 backing northwest 4 or 5, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough at first in north, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming slight between Barra and Canna. Sleet or snow showers, squally at first, then rain or sleet later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming northeast 5 to 7 later, then backing north 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain, sleet or snow at times. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic mainly northerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west and 3 in east. Moderate or rough. Squally snow showers. Good, occasionally very poor.

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

Valid Monday 05 Jan 2026 at 0000 UTC until Monday 05 Jan 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: An occasionally strong, unstable, northerly airflow will affect Shetland waters, with a shallow low expected to move south across the area during the day.

Forecast: In west, cyclonic, mainly northerly, 5 to 7, in east, cyclonic 2 to 4, but becoming northerly 4 to 6 for a time. Rough, occasionally very rough in west, but moderate in well sheltered southern and eastern waters. Squally snow and hail showers. Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Monday 05 Jan until 0000 UTC on Tuesday 06 Jan: In west, northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 becoming variable 3 or less, in east, variable 2 to 4. Rough, occasionally very rough in west at first, becoming moderate later. Snow and hail showers, squally in west at first. Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 2 to 4, veering north to northeast 4 to 5 by midday, perhaps occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight to moderate later. Scattered wintry showers, locally heavy with a risk of thunder, becoming isolated by midday. Good, occasionally moderate to poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 4 to 5, backing west 2 to 4 by midday, then southwest 3 to 4 by dusk, increasing 5 to 6 later, occasionally 7 mid-channel. Slight to moderate, decreasing smooth to slight by midday, increasing slight to moderate later, and rather rough in the northwest by midnight. Isolated showers, clearing by dawn, rain likely spreading into the west of the area later. Good, locally moderate at times.