Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A few wintry showers along with strong winds will affect eastern coasts on Tuesday, but elsewhere a ridge of high pressure will bring most settled conditions and lighter winds. However, further rain and strong winds will arrive across some southern and western parts from Tuesday night and through Wednesday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north, becoming slight or moderate in south. Wintry showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in Moray Firth. Moderate, occasionally slight in Moray Firth and rough elsewhere. Fair. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Wintry showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 or 6, decreasing 4 at times in Firth of Forth. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 5 to 7, veering east 3 or 4, then southeast 5 or 6 later. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Wintry showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 6, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 5 to 7, veering east 3 or 4, then southeast 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north. Wintry showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later. Moderate or rough. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, veering easterly 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. Showers at first in north. Good, occasionally moderate at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly, backing northeasterly later, 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. Moderate, becoming rough at times. Rain at times mainly in south. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then easterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in west. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly backing northerly or northeasterly, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except in far east. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Fair then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East backing north or northeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Moderate, occasionally slight near shore and rough later in far south. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, but mainly slight at first in lyme bay. Fair then rain. Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, then increasing 7 at times near Isles of Scilly. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in west, occasionally high later near Isles of Scilly. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in northwest. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough later in south. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west. Fair, then occasional rain mainly in south. Good, occasionally moderate in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west and also north of Anglesey. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast 2 to 4, veering east or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, then increasing 7 or gale 8 later near Mull of Galloway. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 3 or 4, veering east or southeast 5 or 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later. Slight, becoming moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later. Fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East 3 or 4, veering southeast 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, becoming mainly rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly 2 to 4, veering southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in North Channel. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in northeast, becoming rough later in North Channel. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Rough at first in North Channel, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in Firth of Clyde. Mainly fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East 2 to 4, veering southeast 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate in sheltered east, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later west of Tiree. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west and slight in sheltered east. Mainly fair. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south, perhaps gale 8 later in south. Slight or moderate occasionally rough in north and later in south. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, veering southerly 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate occasionally rough. Mainly fair. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in far south. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north then later in south. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in north and gale 8 at first in south, veering southerly later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west. Mainly fair. Good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, then southerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south. Rough or very rough, becoming mainly moderate in lee shelter in southeast. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Tuesday 17 Feb 2026 at 1200 UTC until Wednesday 18 Feb 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: A ridge builds over Shetland Waters on Tuesday with winds easing.

Forecast: West or northwest 4 to 6 Rough or very rough. Wintry showers Good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Wednesday 18 Feb until 1200 UTC on Wednesday 18 Feb: Westerly 4 to 6 backing south or southeasterly, occasionally variable 3 or 4 in the north. Rough but very rough at first in the north, moderate at times to the south and southeast of shetland. Wintry showers Good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3 becoming east to southeast 3 to 4 by dusk, increasing 5 to 6 by midnight, locally 7, becoming cyclonic variable 3 to 5 in the morning. Slight with a moderate swell, increasing moderate to rather rough, perhaps rough in the north later. Rain, prolonged and heavy at times mist and fog patches developing. Good, becoming moderate to very poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic variable 3 to 5 becoming northwest 5 to 6 by midnight, perhaps locally 7 for a time, veering north 4 to 5 by midday Thursday. Slight with a moderate swell, becoming moderate to rather rough, perhaps rough mid-channel for a time. Occasional rain or showers some mist or fog. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps poor or very poor.