Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A northwesterly airflow covers the United Kingdom with lighter winds for a time as a ridge of high pressure crosses from the west. This precedes an Atlantic frontal system moving south-eastwards, bringing strong winds to most waters during Friday, and gales or severe gales are expected across far northwestern areas.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 5 to 7, then veering southwesterly later. In northwest, rough or very rough, becoming high later, otherwise slight or moderate occasionally rough at first in east. Wintry showers then occasional rain, squally showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest, veering westerly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later near Cape Wrath. In northwest, very rough or high, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in inner Moray Firth. Squally wintry showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Wintry showers at first in north then rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Rattray Head. Fair then wintry showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Rough becoming moderate. Fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 4 to 6, then veering northwest later. Moderate occasionally slight. Rain at first near Whitby, then wintry showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time. Rough becoming moderate, occasionally slight later in south. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, veering west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate occasionally slight. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north. Showers at first, occasional rain later in north. Good, occasionally moderate later in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far south. Occasional rain at first, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly, becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near North Foreland. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near coast. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Northwest, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight occasionally smooth. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, veering northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near coast. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly, backing westerly, 2 to 4, then backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight in east, otherwise moderate, occasionally rough at first near the Isles of Scilly. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly, veering northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west. In east, slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in lyme bay, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers, occasional rain at first. Moderate becoming good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest4 to 6, then veering west 4 or 5 later. Moderate, becoming slight for a time in the Bristol Channel. Occasional rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West, veering northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough. Showers, occasional rain at first. Moderate becoming good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6, then veering northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Fair then rain and drizzle. Good becoming moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first. Showers, rain and drizzle at first. Moderate or poor becoming good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6, then veering northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Fair then occasional rain and drizzle. Good becoming moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time. Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later. Showers, rain and drizzle at first in south. Good, occasionally poor at first in south.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: West, backing southwest, 3 or less, increasing 4 or 5, then veering west 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Fair then rain or drizzle, showers later. Good occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly, veering westerly later, 3 to 5. In south, smooth or slight, otherwise moderate, becoming rough later in far north. Occasional rain and drizzle, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, then veering northwesterly 5 to 7 later. Smooth at first in far south, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough, becoming very rough or high in far north. Squally showers, becoming wintry. Good occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest, veering west later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in the Firth of Clyde, becoming rough later near the Mull of Kintyre. Occasional rain and drizzle, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, then veering northwest 5 to 7 later. Smooth at first near the Firth of Clyde, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough, but becoming very rough near the Mull of Kintyre. Squally showers, becoming wintry. Good occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later, occasionally high later in far west. Rain and drizzle, squally showers later. Moderate or poor becoming good later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 for a time, then veering northwest 6 to gale 8 later. Very rough or high. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7, then veering west or southwest. Moderate or rough, but slight for a time in central areas. Rain and drizzle, squally showers later. Moderate or poor becoming good later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, veering northwest, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate or rough, but very rough near entrances. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7, then veering west or southwest. Rough or very rough, becoming high later. Rain and drizzle, squally showers later. Moderate or poor becoming good later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, veering northwest, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first. High occasionally very high. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then becoming south or southwest 6 to gale 8. Moderate in sheltered east, otherwise rough or very rough. Fair then rain, squally wintry showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Thursday 26 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC until Friday 27 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Ridge building across your area at first, before declining east from late Thursday as Atlantic fronts cross your area early Friday.

Forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, backing southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later Rough or very rough, but moderate in lee shelter of shetland Rain later Good occasionally moderate later

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Friday 27 Mar until 1200 UTC on Friday 27 Mar: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first Rough or very rough, but moderate in lee shelter of shetland Rain then showers, these heavy later with risk hail and thunder Good occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northwest to north 5, decreasing 4 to 5 by midday, further decreasing 2 to 3 later. Rather rough to rough, decreasing slight to moderate by midday, further decreasing smooth or slight later, with a low swell throughout. Isolated showers, mainly at first. Good or very good, locally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 2 to 3, backing southwest 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 after midday, veering northwest later. Smooth or slight with a low swell, perhaps locally moderate in the southwest later. Patchy rain or drizzle, occasionally risk of mist. Good, occasionally moderate to poor.