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, occasionally 4 in Moray Firth and gale 8 later in northeast. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in inner Moray Firth and very rough later in east. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Rattray Head and later elsewhere, perhaps gale 8 later near Rattray Head. Rough, occasionally moderate in south and very rough later in north. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first near Rattray Head, decreasing 4 at times later. 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 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 7, backing east 4 or 5 later. Rough, occasionally moderate in south. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7 later. Moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. 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 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, then veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west and also later in east. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 to 6, veering south or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate occasionally rough. Showers, rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 to 5, backing southeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 5 to 7, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 for a time. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west, becoming rough or very rough later, but high later west of the Lizard peninsula. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time in west. Very rough or high west of the Lizard peninsula, but elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally very rough. 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: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east, becoming very rough later in west, occasionally high later near Lands End. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time in southwest. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east and high at first in southwest. Rain or showers, squally in southwest. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and north, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in northeast, becoming very rough later near St Davids Head. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 4 or 5 backing northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Very rough at first near St Davids Head, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate 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 in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest. Mainly fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, backing easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near Mull of Galloway, becoming smooth or slight. Rain at first then mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 6 or 7, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time. Moderate or rough. Fair, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight. Rain at first then fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough. Showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 6 to gale 8, backing east 3 to 5. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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. Mainly fair, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in North Channel, decreasing 3 to 5. Rough at first in North Channel, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough west of Tiree, but mainly slight in sheltered east. Rain at first. 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, occasionally 7 at first in south. 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 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in far southwest, occasionally 7 later in far north. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near Sutherland. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Rough, occasionally moderate in northwest, becoming very rough later in south and east. Occasional rain, sleet and snow. 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 1200 UTC until Friday 30 Jan 2026 at 0000 UTC

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

Forecast: Southeast 6 or 7 Rough occasionally very rough Occasional rain and later sleet and snow Moderate or good, occasionally poor or very poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Friday 30 Jan until 1200 UTC on Friday 30 Jan: Southeast 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later Rough or very rough Occasional rain, sleet and snow 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 around dusk, veering southwest 4 to 5 by midnight, backing south 5 to 6 later. Slight to moderate, with a low to moderate swell, occasionally rather rough in the north and west, increasing rather rough to rough later. Rain spreading from the west, clearing to isolated showers by midnight, risk of mist of fog patches mainly near french coast around midnight. Good, locally moderate, perhaps poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South to southeast 5 to 6, increasing 6 to 7, veering southwest by dusk, occasionally gale 8, veering west to northwest 5 to 6 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.