Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure centred to the northwest of the British Isles, will continue to give a brisk northeasterly flow.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: North 4 or 5, veering east or northeast 3 or 4, then becoming variable 1 to 3 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough north of Orkney. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 1 to 3, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Showers later. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Northeast 4 or 5, backing north 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 2 or 3, backing westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in north. Slight or moderate. Showers later in north. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: North 3 or 4, veering northeast 4 or 5, then decreasing 2 or 3 later. Slight becoming moderate. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 or 3, backing north 3 or 4, then backing northwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later. Moderate, occasionally slight at first. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 3 or 4, backing north 2 or 3, occasionally 4 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, and occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, fair later. Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in south, backing northerly later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 6 or 7, veering easterly 5 or 6, then backing northeasterly 4 or 5 later. Moderate, occasionally slight later. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first offshore, and occasionally 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time offshore. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 or 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first near Start Point and westwards. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in Lyme Bay. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 5 or 6, backing northeast 4 or 5. Moderate or rough at first in west, otherwise slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first near Lundy Island and Bideford Bay. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight, occasionally moderate in west. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast 5 or 6, veering east 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Cardigan Bay. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, and occasionally 3 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Great Ormes Head and in northwest. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, and occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 2 to 4. Slight. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, and occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 3 or 4, backing northeast 2 or 3, occasionally 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, and occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde and later elsewhere. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 3 or 4, backing northeast 2 or 3, occasionally 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor later in Firth of Clyde.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in south, becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth in shelter. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 1 to 3, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Fair. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Northeast 4 or 5, veering east 2 to 4, then becoming variable 1 to 3 later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far north. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 1 to 3, becoming north 2 to 4, then veering northeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far north. Showers later in north. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Northeast 4 or 5, veering east 2 to 4, then becoming variable 1 to 3 later. Moderate, occasionally slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 1 to 3, becoming north 2 to 4, then veering northeast 3 to 5 later. Moderate, occasionally slight. Showers later in north. Good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 5 or 6, decreasing 2 to 4, then backing northwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

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

Valid Saturday 27 Dec 2025 at 1200 UTC until Sunday 28 Dec 2025 at 0000 UTC

General situation: A ridge of high pressure will extend from the west through the period.

Forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland Fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Sunday 28 Dec until 1200 UTC on Sunday 28 Dec: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland Fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in the north of the area for a time this afternoon and evening. Slight in the southeast, moderate to rather rough in the northwest, occasionally rough mid-channel. Risk of mist patches in the far south of the area overnight. Good, perhaps locally moderate to poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 to 5 by dusk. Slight to moderate, rather rough in the far north at first, decreasing slight overnight. Risk of mist or fog patches in the south of the area overnight. Good, perhaps locally moderate to very poor at times.