Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A moist southwesterly flow will affect northern and western waters, as high pressure slowly builds from the near Continent. High pressure and much warmer conditions will then prevail across all but the north of Scotland by Friday evening.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: South or southeast, veering southwest for a time, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast, veering south or southwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: South or southwest, backing southeast later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast, veering south or southwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Occasional rain, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South or southwest, backing southeast later, 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain for a time later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 or 3, then southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly becoming variable, then southeasterly later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly, backing easterly or southeasterly, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth in east. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly, becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth in east. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: South, backing east or southeast, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate at first offshore. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 1 to 3, occasionally 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth near shore. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, backing southeast 4 or 5, then veering south or southwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle later in west. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 1 to 3. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Lyme Bay. Occasional drizzle, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: South or southwest, backing southeast, 3 to 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Occasional drizzle in west. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Occasional drizzle, fog patches later in west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in west.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 near Anglesey, backing south or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain and fog patches at first, occasional drizzle later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Liverpool Bay. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast veering southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches later in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in north.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 or 6, backing southeast 3 or 4, then veering south or southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, veering southwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, veering southwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, showers later. Good occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in shelter of Skye. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in shelter of Skye. Rain at first, then showers. Good occasionally moderate at first.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate, occasionally rough. Rain at first, then showers. Good occasionally moderate at first.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: South or southwest, backing southeast later, 3 or 4. Moderate, occasionally slight later east of Shetland. Fair at first, then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

Valid Thursday 21 May 2026 at 0600 UTC until Thursday 21 May 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: A southerly or southwesterly airstream over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in west. Moderate, but slight in shelter to the east of shetland. Mainly fair at first. Rain and fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Thursday 21 May until 0600 UTC on Friday 22 May: Southerly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in north at first. Moderate, but slight in shelter to the east of shetland. Rain and fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: South to southeast 2 to 3, locally variable 1 to 2 near the french coast, backing east 3 to 4 around midday, veering southeast 2 to 4 overnight. Smooth locally slight with a low swell. Risk of mist or fog patches near the french coast at first and in the far west later. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South to southeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 1 to 2 for a time, then east or northeast 3 to 4 later. Smooth locally slight with a low swell. Risk of mist or fog patches in the far west at first and near the french coast later risk of isolated thundery showers in the far west overnight. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.