Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Areas of low pressure approaching from the southwest will keep conditions very changeable across the United Kingdom. A mainly strong easterly or southeasterly airflow will persist across all areas, increasing gale force at times in the west and north.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in east, but moderate or rough in west, moderate at times in inner Moray Firth. Rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later. Rough or very rough in east, mainly moderate or rough in west, moderate at times in Moray Firth. Rain or sleet. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly backing easterly 5 or 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first near Rattray Head, occasionally 4 in Firth of Forth. Rough or very rough, moderate at times in Firth of Forth. Rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in south and throughout in north, decreasing 4 at times in Firth of Forth. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in Firth of Forth. Rain or sleet at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7. Rough, occasionally moderate at first in south, becoming rough or very rough. Rain or drizzle at times, fair for a time later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Rough or very rough, becoming rough. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north. Rain at times, becoming fair for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, and 3 later in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough in north, occasionally slight at first and later in south. Showers, mainly fair for a time, the occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north, and slight at times in south. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly veering southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, decreasing 3 at times later. Slight or moderate,. Showers, then mainly fair, rain at times later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly backing easterly 3 to 5, veering southwesterly later. Slight or moderate. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East veering southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Mainly moderate, occasionally rough for a time off shore. Showers, then rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, veering southwest later. Moderate, occasionally slight near shore. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then mainly southeast 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west. Showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming southwest later, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Isles of Scilly, and slight later in lyme bay. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Showers, then rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic mainly southeasterly, then southwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near St Davids Head. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Mainly easterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and north, decreasing 5 at times later in south. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in south and near Anglesey. Showers, then rain at times. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Mainly easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Mainly easterly, occasionally southeasterly at first, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly, but northeasterly at times in Solway Firth, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later in east and south. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough until later in west. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 5 to 7, backing east or northeast 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 to 6, backing mainly east 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, then rain at times. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly backing mainly easterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 in North Channel. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Clyde, becoming moderate or rough later in North Channel. Occasional rain, fair at times. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in North Channel, and 4 later in northeast. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first in North Channel. Occasional rain at first and later. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 to 6, backing east 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in sheltered east, becoming moderate or rough later in west. Rain, then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, and 4 at times later in east. Slight or moderate in east, but moderate, occasionally rough until later in west. Rain at times, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly backing easterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, and 7 later in north and south. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth east of skye. Rain at times, mainly fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times until later in entrances. Smooth or slight to the east and south of skye, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Mainly fair, occasionally drizzle in north. Good, occasionally moderate in north.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, and 7 later in north. Mainly moderate, occasionally rough in north and later in south, slight at times near Sutherland. Rain at times, mainly fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Mainly easterly 5 to 7,. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near Sutherland. Mainly fair, occasionally drizzle in north. Good, occasionally moderate in north.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, backing easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southwest. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in south, and moderate in lee shelter off Shetland, becoming moderate or rough later. Sleet or snow until later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

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

Valid Wednesday 04 Feb 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 05 Feb 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: With slow moving high pressure well to the north and a deep low complex southwest of the UK a strong southeasterly flow will continue over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later in northeast Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southeast but moderate in lee shelter of shetland Sleet or snow Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 05 Feb until 1800 UTC on Thursday 05 Feb: Southeasterly 5 to 7, backing easterly 4 later northeast Rough or very rough, but moderate in lee shelter of shetland Sleet or snow at first Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East to southeast 5 to 6, veering southeast to south 4 to 5 overnight, perhaps locally 6 for a time around midday, backing east 3 to 4 later. Slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell, locally rather rough in the northwest until midday. Occasional rain and showers, locally heavy risk of mist patches near french coast. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 3 to 4, veering southwest 4 to 5 by dawn, perhaps locally 6 for a time around midday. Slight to moderate, locally rather rough in the north and west later, with a moderate swell throughout. Occasional rain and showers, locally heavy risk of mist patches near french coast. Good, occasionally moderate to poor.