Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A mainly southeasterly airflow will persist as a deepening area of low pressure approaches from the southwest. This will bring further rain or showers to all areas. Winds will be strong, with gales for some western and northern waters through Friday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later and 4 in the south. Moderate or rough west of Orkney, but rough or very rough in north and east, occasionally moderate in Moray Firth. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 3 in south, and perhaps gale 8 later in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northeast, and moderate at times in Moray Firth. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in Firth of Forth and gale 8 at first near Rattray Head. Rough, occasionally very rough in north. Showers or rain. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north and 3 in south. Rough, occasionally very rough at first in north, and moderate in Firth of Forth. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 5 to 7. Rough, occasionally moderate at first. Showers or rain. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, veering south 3 or 4 later. Rough, becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time, and 3 later in the south. Moderate, occasionally rough in north. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, decreasing 3 or 4, veering southerly 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first, and slight later in south. Occasional rain, fair for a time. Moderate or good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate, occasionally slight in Thames estuary and the wash. Occasional rain, fair later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 until later. Slight or moderate. Fair, then rain later. Moderate or good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly, veering southeasterly at times, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time in west, and 3 in east. Moderate, occasionally slight in east, and rough in west. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first and 2 later. Moderate, occasionally rough until later in west, and slight later in east. Rain or showers, fair for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest backing south or southeast for a time, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time. Moderate, becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 for a time offshore, then west 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, but very rough or high for a time west of the Lizard peninsula. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far west, becoming slight or moderate later in east. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming mainly northwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time in south. Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time near Lands End, but slight or moderate in Bristol Channel. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, occasionally veering northwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later in southwest, slight or moderate in Bristol Channel. Showers, squally at first, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, decreasing 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near shore and east of Anglesey, becoming very rough for a time near St Davids Head. Occasional rain, showers for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming mainly westerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough until later in south, and slight in north, smooth later east of Anglesey. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: East or southeast, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing east then northeast later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west and northwest. Rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Mull of Galloway, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth. Showers. Moderate or good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 7 or gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6, then east or northeast 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain, then fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4, then becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Patchy rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing east 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then mainly southwest later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight, except in far north. Showers. Moderate or good.

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, backing easterly 3 to 5. Moderate or rough until later in North Channel, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in Firth of Clyde. Occasional rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southwesterly later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in North Channel. Showers. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later in west and slight in sheltered east. Rain, then showers. Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast veering south later, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, but mainly slight in sheltered east. Showers. Moderate or good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight east of skye, occasionally rough near south entrance. Fair at first, then rain. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6. 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 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in southwest, decreasing 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south, and slight at times near Sutherland. Fair at first, then rain. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near Sutherland. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 or 7. Rough or very rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

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

Valid Friday 30 Jan 2026 at 0600 UTC until Friday 30 Jan 2026 at 1800 UTC

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

Forecast: Southeast 6 or 7 Rough occasionally very rough Wintry showers Good occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Friday 30 Jan until 0600 UTC on Saturday 31 Jan: Southeasterly 6 or 7 Rough or very rough Wintry showers Good occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 5, backing south to southeast 5 to 7 by midday, then veering south to southwest 6 to 7 with gusts to 45kt by mid-afternoon, perhaps locally gale 8, decreasing 5 to 6 overnight. Slight to moderate, with a low to moderate swell, increasing rather rough to rough, locally very rough to high. Occasional rain or showers by mid-morning, locally heavy, clearing after midnight. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 6, decreasing 4 to 5 by midday, veering west to northwest by dusk, locally 3 later. Locally rather rough to rough in the north at first, otherwise slight to moderate with a moderate swell. Occasional rain or showers by mid-morning, locally heavy, becoming isolated after dusk. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor.