Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A deep area of low pressure near southeast England bringing rain or sleet for southern and some central waters, along with gales or storm force winds across the far south, will move away eastwards. Strong winds will persist for many southern and eastern waters but with lighter winds towards the northwest.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in Moray Firth, otherwise south or southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate until later in south, otherwise moderate occasionally rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Showers, wintry in east. Good, occasionally poor in east.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic mainly easterly, becoming southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, wintry later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly, veering southerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north and also later in south. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later. Moderate becoming rough. Showers, wintry later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 3 to 5, veering southeast 3 or 4, then south 4 to 6 later. Rough becoming moderate. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south. Moderate becoming rough. Rain or showers, wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 to 6, veering easterly 3 or 4, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later. Rough becoming moderate. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south and at first in north, becoming northerly or northwesterly later. Moderate or rough. Rain or sleet at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, veering northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain or sleet then wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough at first except in far east, otherwise moderate or rough. Occasional rain or sleet. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 6 or 7, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Rain or sleet at first in east, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally poor at first in east.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest gale 8 or severe gale 9, decreasing 6 to gale 8. Very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain or sleet at first, squally showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first offshore. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest gale 8 or severe gale 9, decreasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 near Isles of Scilly. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first near headlands in south, becoming moderate or rough except in far west. Occasional rain then showers, perhaps squally. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Very rough at first in far west, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except in far west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7. Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Lands End. Occasional rain or sleet, then showers, perhaps squally. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough at first near Lands End. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, backing northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times later in north. Moderate or rough in south, but in north slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Occasional rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then southerly 3 to 5 later. Rough at first near St Davids Head, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast backing north or northwest, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate at first in south, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, backing northerly or northwesterly, then decreasing 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Mainly slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5 later in south. Mainly slight. Showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: North or northeast backing northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable, then west or southwest, 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight except in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest becoming cyclonic, then south later, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre and at first in North Channel. Showers, perhaps wintry at first in far north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in far north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, but moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough in west. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in central areas. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in central areas. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5 later. Mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate near Sutherland and between barra and canna. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate near Sutherland, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Friday 09 Jan 2026 at 0000 UTC until Friday 09 Jan 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: The complex area of low pressure south of Iceland moves to just west of Scotland as the ridge extending between southern Norway and southern Scotland strengthens.

Forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in the west at first. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 09 Jan until 0000 UTC on Saturday 10 Jan: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east at first. Rough, very rough in northeast for a time. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest to west severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, perhaps locally hurricane force 12 for a time, veering northwest 7 to gale 8 by dawn, decreasing 6 to 7 by midday, decreasing again 5 to 6 evening. Very rough to high, perhaps briefly very high in the northwest, then decreasing rough to very rough by midday Friday, decreasing rather rough to rough by midnight. Squally rain or hail showers. Moderate, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest to north 5 to 6, decreasing 4 to 5 by midday Saturday, becoming variable 2 to 3 later. Rather rough to rough, decreasing moderate to rather rough by midday Saturday with a low swell. Squally rain or hail showers, locally heavy at first. Good, occasionally moderate.