Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of low pressure over the southern Norwegian Sea will continue to bring gales to waters the far north at first. This low will move eastwards and start to fill as high pressure builds in from the far southwest. Showers will continue in the north and east at first, though a warm front will approach from the west later today, move eastwards through Tuesday and will bring occasional rain and drizzle to many waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in far northwest. To the north and west of Orkney very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasional rough at first in east, smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Showers, occasional rain or drizzle later. Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in far northwest, veering northerly later except in far east. To the north and west of Orkney, moderate or rough, elsewhere slight or moderate, smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Mainly fair, rain later. Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor later.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 5 or 6, but 7 at first near Rattray Head, backing west or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers, occasional drizzle later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Rattray Head. Mainly fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, occasional drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 or 4, backing southwest 3 to 5. Slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west 4 or 5, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, occasional rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest becoming variable for a time, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast, becoming smooth or slight later in west. Showers, occasional rain or drizzle later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in far east, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers at first in east, occasional drizzle later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly, becoming variable in east, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, decreasing 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Occasional drizzle later. Good occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming west, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle, then mainly fair. Good occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough west of the Lizard peninsula, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in lyme bay. Occasional drizzle later. Good occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 2 in east. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in east and rough at first in far southwest. Occasional drizzle, showers later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, backing west or northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first in west. Occasional drizzle and fog patches later. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West, backing southwest later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle and fog patches at first, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in north. Occasional rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in far southwest, increasing 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in south. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth later in north. Showers, occasional rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5 later in northwest. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5 occasionally 6 at first, backing west or southwest 3 or 4. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Mainly fair, occasional rain or drizzle. Mostly good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight occasionally moderate later. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. In far north, rough or very rough until later, otherwise, elsewhere slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Showers then occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches for a time in north. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor, and very poor for a time in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 for a time in north, occasionally 6 later in southeast. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in south. Occasional drizzle. Good occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in the North Channel, backing westerly 3 to 5, then southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate to the south of the isle of arran. Showers then occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in the North Channel. Occasional drizzle. Good occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing west or southwest 4 to 6,. Very rough or high at first in west, otherwise rough or very rough, but moderate becoming slight later in sheltered east. Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches for a time. Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, veering north 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, but slight in sheltered east, then southeast later. Occasional drizzle, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far north, backing southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in central areas, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough near entrances. Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches for a time. Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering northerly later, 5 to 7. Slight or moderate in central areas, but rough near entrances. Occasional drizzle, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far north, backing southwesterly 4 to 6. Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough. Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches for a time. Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering northerly later, 5 to 7. Rough or very rough, becoming rough. Occasional drizzle, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, backing southwest later, then increasing 5 or 6 later. Very rough or high, but moderate or rough in sheltered east, becoming rough, but slight or moderate in sheltered east. Showers, occasional rain or drizzle later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

Valid Monday 30 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC until Tuesday 31 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Low in the Norwegian Sea drifts north and fills this afternoon with a weak ridge toppling east across Shetland waters overnight. A deepening low moves NE across Iceland on Tuesday.

Forecast: Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later Very rough or high, but moderate or rough in sheltered eastern waters Squally showers dying out Moderate or good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Tuesday 31 Mar until 1200 UTC on Tuesday 31 Mar: West or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southwest 5 or 6 High at first in west, otherwise rough or very rough, but moderate in sheltered eastern waters Occasional rain Moderate or good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 5, locally 6 at times during the afternoon, decreasing 3 to 4 later. Slight to moderate with a low swell throughout, locally rather rough in the south. Risk of isolated light showers, perhaps some patchy rain or drizzle and mist on Tuesday morning. Good, perhaps locally moderate or poor at time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 4, perhaps occasionally 5 later. Slight to moderate with a low swell. Patchy rain or drizzle. Good, perhaps locally moderate at times.