Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A large area of high pressure, centred over the North Sea, will maintain settled weather. Strong easterly or northeasterly winds will affect more southern waters of England and Wales, with gales in the far south and southwest during Wednesday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 in west, otherwise southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 later in east. Smooth at first in the Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough in north. Fog patches in far northwest. Moderate or good occasionally very poor in far northwest.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 in far west, otherwise southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in east. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Fog patches at first in far northwest. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in far northwest.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: South 3 or less, backing southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later near Rattray Head. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in south. Slight becoming moderate. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly, veering easterly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south. Slight, occasionally moderate in south. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly, veering southeasterly, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly, veering easterly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south. Moderate, occasionally slight at first in north. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 4 to 6. Moderate occasionally slight. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly, veering easterly, 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in south. Moderate, occasionally rough at first near North Foreland. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 5 or 6, veering southeasterly 4 or 5. Moderate, occasionally slight later. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly, veering easterly later, 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near shore. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near Selsey Bill, veering southeasterly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast, veering east, 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near shore. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 5 to 7, veering southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast 5 to 7, veering east 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east. Showers in west. Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Rough becoming moderate, occasionally slight later. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast, veering east, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far west. Showers near Lands End. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor near Lands End.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast, veering east later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north Cardigan Bay and caernarfon bay. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Showers near St Davids Head. Good, occasionally moderate near St Davids Head.

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

24 hour forecast: East 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East, veering southeast later, 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in south, veering easterly 4 or 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 4 to 6, veering southeasterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 2 to 4 ,occasionally 5 in south, veering easterly 4 or 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in the North Channel. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 4 to 6, veering southeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in the North Channel. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, backing east or southeast 3 or 4. Moderate, occasionally rough later in far west. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far west. Fair. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate near entrances. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 for a time in south. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near entrances. Fog patches at first in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in far north.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Moderate becoming rough. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 for a time in south. Rough becoming moderate. Fog patches at first in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in far north.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southwest 2 to 4, veering south 3 or 4. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

Valid Wednesday 29 Apr 2026 at 0000 UTC until Wednesday 29 Apr 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: High pressure remains centred in the North Sea remains slow moving

Forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4 Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far west Fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Wednesday 29 Apr until 0000 UTC on Thursday 30 Apr: South or southwest 3 to 5 Moderate, but rough in west. slight east of shetland. Fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 6 to 7, occasionally 4 to 5 in the south, veering east later. Slight to moderate, increasing rather rough to rough in the north and west overnight. Isolated showers, perhaps heavy and thundery, becoming mainly in the south and west later. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 5 to 7, veering southeast to south 2 to 4 later. Slight to moderate in the southeast, rather rough to rough in the north and west until evening. Isolated showers, mainly in the south and west. Good, locally occasionally moderate.