Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The showery northwesterly airflow across the United Kingdom will weaken ahead of Atlantic fronts moving in from the west during the weekend, bringing some outbreaks of rain and less cool conditions, followed by further showers.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in Moray Firth and later elsewhere. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Moray Firth, occasionally rough later north of Orkney. Rain for a time, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming cyclonic later, occasionally 2 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in south and also later in north. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic, becoming southwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first. Smooth or slight in Firth of Forth, slight or moderate elsewhere. Rain for a time at first, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: West or northwest, veering east or southeast later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later. Rough becoming moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast veering west or southwest, 3 to 5. Moderate, becoming slight later. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 for a time, then becoming southeast 3 to 5 later. Rough at first in north, otherwise moderate, occasionally slight later in south. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast veering west or southwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Rain for a time, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly, then cyclonic later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic, becoming westerly or southwesterly for a time, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far north. Fair then occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable becoming westerly or northwesterly, 2 to 4, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, decreasing 2 or 3, then backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate in south. Occasional rain or showers, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest becoming cyclonic, then west later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight until later in east, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far west. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west 4 to 6 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate in west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Lands End. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 2 to 4, backing south or southeast later. Slight, becoming smooth at times. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, backing south or southwest 2 to 4 later. Slight. Fair, rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 2 to 4, veering west or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north and also later elsewhere. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near Mull of Kintyre. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate near Mull of Kintyre and occasionally moderate later in North Channel. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then cyclonic, mainly southeast, 3 to 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate in west. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east, becoming moderate or rough in west. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, increasing 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north, but occasionally rough at first in far north. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Smooth or slight until later in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, increasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in south and rough at first in north. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain or showers, squally at first. Moderate or good.

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

Valid Friday 15 May 2026 at 1800 UTC until Saturday 16 May 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: The strong northerly flow gradually eases across Shetland Waters during Saturday.

Forecast: North or northwest 5 to 7 occasionally 4 in east later. Rough occasionally very rough at first. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Saturday 16 May until 1800 UTC on Saturday 16 May: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 4 to 5, backing west to southwest 3 to 4 by dawn, increasing 4 to 5 during the afternoon. Smooth to slight, with a diminishing low swell, increasing slight to moderate for a time. Isolated showers rain in west by dawn, spreading east. Good or very good, locally moderate at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to southwest 4 to 5, veering west to northwest after midnight. Slight to moderate , with a low swell. Patchy rain or showers, clearing Sunday afternoon. Good, locally moderate or perhaps poor at times.