Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
06:00 (UTC) on Fri 30 Oct 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 31 Oct 2026
General situation
High pressure over continental europe will slowly move north through the forecast period into the North Sea, with some fair weather for all areas today and there will be relatively light winds for a time in the south and east. Low pressure in the Atlantic will push frontal troughs eastwards towards Ireland, giving outbreaks of rain across the northwest during Saturday.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South 4 or 5, occasionally 6 for a time, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then northeast 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth and rough for a time in northwest. Fair, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth and rough in northwest. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 for a time near Rattray Head, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in north. Mainly fair. Mainly good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in south, veering northwesterly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6 for a time later in north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Rattray Head. Fair, rain later. Moderate or good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: South 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest veering west later, 3 or 4, then north or northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair, rain later in north. Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: South or southeast, 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Coastal fog patches at first, otherwise fair. Mainly good, occasionally very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable mainly south, veering west or northwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Coastal fog patches later, otherwise fair. Mainly good, occasionally very poor later.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 2 in north and 5 for a time in south. Smooth or slight. Coastal fog patches at first, otherwise fair. Mainly good, occasionally very poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later in north, veering northeasterly 3 or 4 later in south. Smooth or slight. Coastal fog patches later, otherwise fair. Mainly good, occasionally very poor later.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly backing northeasterly, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in west. Mainly fair. Mainly good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate in west. Coastal fog patches later, otherwise fair. Mainly good, occasionally very poor later.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: East or southeast becoming northeast, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Mainly good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 until later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair, coastal fog patches later. Mainly good, occasionally very poor later.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly
24 hour forecast: East or southeast, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far west. Mainly fair. Mainly good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast backing northeast, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 until later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in lyme bay and rough at first near Isles of Scilly. Mainly fair. Mainly good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel
24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Mainly good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 to 5, backing northeast 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Mainly good, occasionally moderate later.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first and 2 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth east of Anglesey. Mainly fair. Mainly good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth east of Anglesey. Fair, rain later. Moderate or good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast. Fair. Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then northeasterly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast veering southwest, 3 or 4, then north or northwest, 4 or 5 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fog patches, occasionally rain later. Mainly good, occasional poor or very poor.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southeast 5 or 6, decreasing 4 later. Slight or moderate. Fair, then occasional rain later in northwest. Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor for a time.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly, 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in North Channel, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly veering northwesterly later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in North Channel. Slight, occasionally smooth in northeast. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor for a time.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6,. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east and very rough for a time in northwest. Fair, occasional rain later. Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor for a time.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then northeast 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough south of skye, elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming northwest, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough at first in entrances, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then northeast 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first west of Outer Hebrides. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming northwest, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South veering southwest,4 to 6, veering north or northwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, but slight in shelter east of Shetland. Fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland - Strong wind warning
Valid Friday 30 Oct 2026 at 0600 UTC until Friday 30 Oct 2026 at 1800 UTC
General situation: High pressure stays slow moving in the southern North Sea with a ridge extending north into southern Scandinavia. A trough stays slow moving to the west.
Forecast: South 4 or 5, later occasionally 6. Moderate or rough, but slight in sheltered waters east of shetland. Fair. Good.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Friday 30 Oct until 0600 UTC on Saturday 31 Oct: South or southwest 5 or 6, veering west or northwest 3 or 4, later decreasing variable 3 or less. Moderate or rough, but slight in sheltered waters east of shetland Fair, then patchy rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: Easterly 3 to 4, occasionally 5 in the north of the area Friday afternoon. Smooth or slight, with a low swell. Risk of mist patches near the french coast for a time around dawn. Good or very good, perhaps locally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 3 to 4, perhaps locally 5, backing east to northeast Saturday afternoon. Smooth or slight, with a low swell. Risk of mist patches near the french coast for a time around dawn. Good or very good, perhaps locally moderate.