Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A ridge of high pressure will retreat southwestwards as a cold front moves across the United Kingdom on Monday, bring a narrow band of rain or showers southwards. Strong winds affecting some coastlines, mainly in the east, will slowly ease. Further fronts will then move southeastwards on Tuesday on a strengthening northwesterly flow.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6 later in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in northwest.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly for a time, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming variable, then southwest, 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near Berwick upon Tweed. Showers, squally at first, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time. Showers, squally at first, fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 or 5, then variable 2 to 4 for a time later. Slight or moderate. Fair then rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, veering north or northwest 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight becoming moderate or rough. Showers, squally at first, fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Fair then showers. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 3 to 5 at first in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming rough in northeast. Fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast, becoming smooth or slight in Thames estuary. Showers later. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly, backing northwesterly for a time, 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far east. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in west. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate in east and smooth in west. Showers later. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Northeast backing west or northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northeast backing north or northwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far west, becoming smooth or slight later in east. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far west. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast backing north or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in Bristol Channel. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Showers for a time. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in east, becoming mainly moderate later. Showers for a time. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly, veering northeasterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in north. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair then rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, veering northeast 3 to 5, backing west or northwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate becoming slight. Showers then fair. Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, backing west 5 or 6 later. Slight becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle at first, then fair. Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, veering north 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then west 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later except in far north. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north. Fair then occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate until later in North Channel, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Mull of Kintyre. Fair then occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in sheltered east. Showers mainly at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except in shelter, then very rough later in far west. Rain then showers, squally later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time in south. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers, squally later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate between barra and canna, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later to the west of the Outer Hebrides. Rain then showers, squally later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 to 6, backing northwest 3 or 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first, then becoming slight at times in east. Showers at first, rain later. Moderate or good.

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

Valid Monday 11 May 2026 at 0000 UTC until Monday 11 May 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A ridge topples across Shetland waters on Monday ahead of an approaching front arriving in the evening.

Forecast: North 5 or 6, backing northwest 3 or 4 later Rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate, but slight in well sheltered eastern waters Showers dying out Moderate or good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Monday 11 May until 0000 UTC on Tuesday 12 May: Northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 in west later Moderate, but slight in well sheltered eastern waters Mainly fair, rain later Good, moderate later

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 5 to 6 with gusts to 35kt, perhaps locally 7 at first, backing north 4 to 5 overnight then backing northwest by midday Monday, veering east to southeast 3 to 4 later, locally variable 1 to 2. Slight to moderate, perhaps locally rather rough at first, decreasing smooth to slight with a low swell by mid-morning. Rain and showers, mainly in the south and east, clearing by dawn isolated showers in the north later, clearing by midnight. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to southeast 3 to 4, locally variable 1 to 2, veering west northwest 3 to 4 by midday, increasing 4 to 5 later. Smooth to slight. Isolated showers later. Good or very good, occasionally moderate.