Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An often strong and showery mainly southwesterly flow, will continue to affect northern waters into the weekend. Further south, a weak cold front clearing today, will be followed by a ridge of high pressure on Saturday, maintaining lighter winds here.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Cape Wrath and Orkney. Slight or moderate, but rough or very rough in northwest and later in northeast. Showers, thundery later in north. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, backing southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in northwest. Showers until later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at first, then showers later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest backing south later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later near Rattray Head. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Showers at first. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in north. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest, 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing south or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming westerly or northwesterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly, 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming northwest, 3 to 5 for a time. Slight, occasionally smooth. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming northwest, 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 1 to 3, becoming south or southeast, 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first, backing southwest 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, but moderate or rough becoming mainly moderate west of Lands End. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest backing southeast for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first. Smooth or slight, but moderate becoming moderate or rough west of Lands End. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later in east. Moderate or rough until later in southwest, elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly backing southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first in east and 6 later. Slight or moderate in west, occasionally smooth in east, becoming moderate or rough later in far west. Fair, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in north, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south or southeast, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth east of Anglesey. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first and 6 later. Slight, occasionally smooth, becoming slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south or southeast, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West backing southwest, 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5, occasionally 6 for a time later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Mostly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 5 or 6. Slight or moderate, becoming mainly moderate. Mainly fair, then occasional rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first and 6 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate in north, elsewhere smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers, then rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first and 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later in North Channel. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west. Rough or very rough until later in west, moderate or rough in east. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly backing southerly for a time, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time in west. Showers, rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, but rough in in entrances. Showers, thundery later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in shelter. Showers, rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 to 7. Rough or very rough, becoming rough. Showers, thundery later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west. Rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time, occasionally moderate near Sutherland. Showers, rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in east and moderate at times east of Shetland. Showers, thundery later. Good, occasionally poor later.

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

Valid Friday 25 Sep 2026 at 1200 UTC until Saturday 26 Sep 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Low pressure to the northwest maintains a brisk southwesterly flow over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southwest 4 to 6 Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west, but moderate in lee shelter of shetland Showers with risk thunderstorms later Good occasionally moderate and later poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Saturday 26 Sep until 1200 UTC on Saturday 26 Sep: Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in west. Rough or very rough, but moderate in lee shelter of shetland Showers with risk thunderstorms Good occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 by dusk, veering north to northeast 3 to 4 by late morning, occasionally 2 later. Smooth or slight with a low to moderate swell. Risk of mist or fog at first. Good or very good, perhaps poor or very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North to northeast 2 to 3, veering east to southeast by midnight, increasing 3 to 4 later, veering south 4 to 5 towards midday. Smooth or slight with a low swell. Rain spreading into the west of the area towards midday on Sunday, perhaps heavy. Good or very good, locally moderate, or perhaps poor.