Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Strong winds affecting some western waters, with a risk of gales for coasts of Wales and southwest England, will slowly ease. A front over the north and west of the United Kingdom will edge slowly southeastwards bringing occasional rain, but with mainly fair conditions either side of this. Strong southerly winds will return to northwest Scotland by Friday evening.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: West or northwest, backing south or southeast later, 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times later. Moderate or rough to north and west of Orkney, smooth or slight in Moray Firth and slight or moderate elsewhere. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Cape Wrath and 3 in Moray Firth. To the north and west of Orkney, moderate or rough occasionally very rough, but elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Mainly fair. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming north or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Occasional rain, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near Rattray Head. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate near Rattray Head. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, veering north or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 or 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first and smooth later. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming north or northwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in south, becoming moderate at times in north. Showers, fog patches developing. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain later, fog patches later in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming northerly or northeasterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches. Moderate to very poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches developing. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 to 5 in west and also later in east. Slight. Rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly veering easterly, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less at first in east, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west and 4 later. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west, occasionally very rough at first in far west. Rain at times, mainly fair later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 decreasing 3 or 4. Smooth or slight in lyme bay, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Mainly slight or moderate in east, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far southwest. Rain at times, mainly fair later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far east and rough in southwest. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: North 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6, then 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in north and also later in south, occasionally smooth later in north. Occasional rain, fair later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in south. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far southeast, becoming smooth or slight later. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 near Mull of Galloway. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering north or northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming smooth or slight later. Rain at first, then fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north, becoming smooth or slight in south. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in north, occasionally rough in far north. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate at first in North Channel, otherwise smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre, becoming slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough later in far northwest. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough in west. Fair. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight until later just north and east of skye, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far southwest. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate occasionally rough. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest backing south, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough near Sutherland, otherwise rough or very rough. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: West, backing south later, 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Valid Thursday 05 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC until Friday 06 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Ridge of high pressure crossing the area, before starting to decline eastwards as Atlantic fronts approach the west of Scotland later Friday.

Forecast: Westerly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in west Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland Occasional rain at first Good occasionally moderate at first

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 06 Mar until 1800 UTC on Friday 06 Mar: Westerly backing southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 in west Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland Fair Good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Southeast 2 to 3, veering southwest to west 3 to 4 by midnight, becoming cyclonic 1 to 3 by dawn, then north to northwest 3 to 4 later. Smooth or slight with a low swell, perhaps locally moderate in the west from dawn. Risk of showers and isolated thunderstorms until late evening rain and drizzle spreading northwest by dawn mist or fog patches at times from evening. Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North to northwest 3 to 4, backing south to southeast 2 to 3 by dawn, veering west to northwest later locally variable 1 to 3 at times. Smooth to slight with a low swell, occasionally moderate in the west. Rain and drizzle mostly clearing overnight mist or fog patches. Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor.