Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure towards the south will continue to decline as a front bringing outbreaks of rain, turning thundery in places, clears southeastwards on Wednesday, with showers following in the north. Strong winds will affect some coasts, away from the far south and northwest. High pressure will then build from the west again later on Wednesday, before rain and strong winds reach the northwest on Thursday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly, backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in far southeast. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney, but elsewhere smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 4 or 5, veering southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far west, then veering southwesterly later. To the north and west of Orkney, moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, elsewhere, smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic mainly northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in south. Rain or thundery showers at first. Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 4 to 6, veering southwest later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south, becoming northerly 2 to 4, then variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain or thundery showers at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, then variable 3 or less later in north. Slight occasionally moderate. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, veering north or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or thundery showers at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in north and later in south. Rain or thundery showers for a time at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 4 or less, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in far east. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly veering easterly or southeasterly, then southerly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable becoming west or northwest, veering east later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast veering southeast, 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in far west, veering northeasterly, then easterly or southeasterly later. Moderate to the south and west of Lizard Point, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate to the south and west of Lizard Point, occasionally rough later near Isles of Scilly. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: West or northwest, veering northeast, then southeast later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate later in south.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, veering north 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate until later. Rain or showers at first, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

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

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming northwest, 4 to 6, then becoming variable 3 or less later, then southeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time at first. Rain or showers at first, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north, veering northwesterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 or 3, then southeast 4 or 5. Slight or moderate becoming slight. Rain, becoming fair. Moderate or good, becoming good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6, veering west 3 or 4 later. Slight, becoming moderate for a time. Fair, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6. Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in south and rough later in far north. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then south 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far northwest. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east, becoming very rough or high later in west. Occasional rain, then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West backing south later, 3 to 5, then increasing 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight until later in central areas. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Occasional rain, then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West backing south later, 3 to 5, then increasing 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later to the west of the Outer Hebrides. Occasional rain, then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 2 to 4, veering northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate to the east of Shetland. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Valid Wednesday 23 Sep 2026 at 0600 UTC until Wednesday 23 Sep 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: A low moves NE over the North Sea at first on Wednesday with a ridge building from the west.

Forecast: Southwesterly soon veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally variable 3 or less in southeast at first. Moderate or rough, slight in lee shelter east of shetland. Occasional rain at first, then mainly fair. Mainly good, occasionally moderate for a time.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Wednesday 23 Sep until 0600 UTC on Thursday 24 Sep: Northwest 4 or 5 backing west 3 or 4, then south 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, slight in lee shelter east of shetland. Fair. Good.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming northwest 2 to 4 by late morning, veering north to northeast by midnight, then east to southeast by dawn tomorrow. Smooth, locally slight at times, with a low swell. Small risk of fog patches near french coast around dawn today, then a greater risk towards dawn tomorrow very small risk of mist patches in the north of the area today. Good or very good, perhaps locally poor or very poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 2 to 4, backing east to northeast by dusk, becoming variable cyclonic by midnight. Smooth smooth, locally slight at times, with a low swell. Mist or fog patches near french coast around dawn, and perhaps in the west of the area overnight. Good or very good, locally poor or perhaps very poor at times.