Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The strong westerly or southwesterly airflow currently covering the United Kingdom will gradually ease during the next 24 hours as a ridge of high pressure builds from the south. Showers affecting many parts on Wednesday will then also gradually become more isolated during the day.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 4 to 6, but increasing 7 at times until later in northwest. To the west and north of Orkney, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, but elsewhere, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain then showers, perhaps squally in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth and rough at first to the west and north of Orkney, otherwise slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, backing south later, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate in north and smooth in south. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers, rain for a time at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south or southeast, 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight occasionally smooth. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, backing south or southeast later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first and smooth later. Showers for a time. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in west. Mainly fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming slight at times later near shore. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 2 to 4 later. Very rough at first near Isles of Scilly, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east. Showers, fair later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 2 to 4, backing southeast 3 to 5. Rough at first near Isles of Scilly, otherwise slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing south 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 or 4, backing southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later near pembrokeshire. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near st david's head, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south or southeast, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later in northwest. Slight, occasionally smooth in south and moderate later in north. Showers at first. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 or 7, decreasing 5 or 6, then 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain or drizzle at first, fair later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 or 4, backing south or southeast 4 to 6. Slight, becoming slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except in far north. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south, 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later. Moderate or rough at first in North Channel, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly backing southerly, 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far north. Mainly fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest, veering west or northwest for a time at first, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east and later in west. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south or southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east. Mainly fair. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north and at first in south. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except near entrances. Rain at first in south, otherwise showers, squally at first in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north and later in far south. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north and at first in south. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest then moderate later in far south. Rain at first in south, otherwise showers, squally at first in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later west of the Outer Hebrides. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough in sheltered east. Showers, squally at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

Valid Wednesday 28 Oct 2026 at 0000 UTC until Wednesday 28 Oct 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A deep low east of Iceland will drift north and slowly fill, with the strong southwesterly flow across Shetland Waters slowly easing.

Forecast: Southwest 7 or gale 8, occasionally 6 later. High until later in north and west, otherwise very rough, becoming rough in to east of shetland. Squally showers Good occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Wednesday 28 Oct until 0000 UTC on Thursday 29 Oct: West or southwest 5 to 7. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later east of shetland. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West 4 to 5, backing southwest 3 to 4 overnight, becoming variable 1 to 3 by dusk, then southeast 2 to 3 later. Rather rough to rough, decreasing slight to moderate, then smooth or slight later a low to moderate swell throughout. Isolated showers. Good or very good, perhaps occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 2 to 3, increasing 3 to 4 by dawn Thursday, backing east later. Smooth or slight, with a decreasing low to moderate swell. Fair or fine. Good or very good.