Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A ridge of high pressure will give light winds and fair weather for many areas during the next 24 hours, especially in the west and northeast. However a frontal system will bring some rain or drizzle and fog patches to eastern and southern parts. However, strong to gale force southerly winds will return to northwestern Scotland.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north and near Rattray Head. To the west and north of Orkney, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, but elsewhere, slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly, veering southwesterly for a time later in west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near Cape Wrath and Rattray Head. To the west and north of Orkney, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Rain later in northwest. Good, occasionally moderate later in northwest.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in south. Slight, occasionally moderate in north and smooth in south. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far north, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in far south. Slight, occasionally moderate in far north and smooth in south. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: West backing south or southeast, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later. Slight becoming smooth or slight. Occasional rain, mainly later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later near Whitby. Smooth or slight. Rain at times, fog patches developing. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly veering easterly or northeasterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times in east. Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate in west. Rain at times, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near Selsey Bill. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: North or northeast veering east, 3 or 4. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain at times, fog patches developing. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 3 or 4, decreasing 2 at times later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Occasional rain, drizzle or showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: North 3 or 4 veering east or northeast 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far east, becoming rough at times west of Lands End. Mainly fair then rain at times, fog patches later in east. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast becoming variable mainly southeast, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough west of Lands End. Occasional rain, drizzle or showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: North or northeast becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east, becoming rough at times near Lands End. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or southeast 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near land's end and smooth in far east. Occasional rain, drizzle or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly 3 or 4 in far northwest. Smooth or slight, becoming mainly moderate near St Davids Head. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable mainly southerly or southeasterly, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate near pembrokeshire, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fair, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less in south, but in north, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable mainly southerly or southeasterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair, then occasional drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Southerly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in west. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far north. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in far north and 3 in south. Moderate or rough in far north, otherwise slight, occasionally moderate in north. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far north. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first near Mull of Kintyre, decreasing 3 at times later. Smooth or slight to the north and east of arran, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 in southeast and 7 in northwest. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough in west. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough until later in northwest. Fair, then rain at times. Moderate or good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later. Mainly slight just northeast of skye, otherwise moderate occasionally rough. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough until later to the southwest of skye. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later in far west. Moderate or rough near Sutherland, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high to the west of the Outer Hebrides. Occasional rain later in west. Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough near Sutherland, elsewhere rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east, becoming rough or very rough in west and far north. Fair. Good.

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

Valid Saturday 07 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC until Saturday 07 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: High pressure to the east with Atlantic weather fronts approaching the west of Scotland, bringing a strong southerly or southwesterly flow to Shetland Waters.

Forecast: South or southwest 5 to 7. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west. slight or moderate to the east of shetland. Fair. Good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Saturday 07 Mar until 0000 UTC on Sunday 08 Mar: South 5 to 7 becoming 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west. slight or moderate to the east of shetland. Fair. Good.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northeast 2 to 3, occasionally 4 in the north and west of the area, locally variable 1 to 2 in the south of the area from dawn, veering east later. Smooth locally slight, with a low swell. Patchy rain or drizzle with mist and fog patches isolated showers later, perhaps thundery at times widespread mist or fog banks developing later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 2 to 4, occasionally variable 1 to 2, veering southeast 1 to 3 from dawn, then south 2 to 3 later. Smooth locally slight, with a low swell. Mist or fog banks and perhaps some patchy drizzle at times isolated showers, mainly near the french coast Sunday afternoon, perhaps thundery. Moderate, occasionally poor or very poor.