Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Low pressure will continue to move eastwards into the North Sea, bringing rain and strong to gale force winds to most waters by this evening. A cold and strong northwesterly flow with wintry showers will follow, extending to all areas by Wednesday. A ridge of high pressure will then move into the southwest on Thursday, bringing more settled conditions here for a time.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly veering northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in south and gale 8 later in northeast. To the west and north of Orkney, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough for a time, elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate for a time, but slight in Moray Firth. Squally showers, turning wintry. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, veering southerly 3 to 5 later. To the west and north of Orkney, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, elsewhere moderate or rough, but slight in Moray Firth. Squally wintry showers until later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in far northeast. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth and rough later in northeast. Rain then squally showers, wintry later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast, backing southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northeast. Squally wintry showers until later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 5 to 7. Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Rain, squally showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough for a time. Squally wintry showers at first. Good occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west, then northwest later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain, squally showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough. Squally showers, perhaps wintry later. Good occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, then northwesterly 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east. Squally rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north and east. Squally showers, perhaps wintry for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northwesterly 6 or 7 later. Moderate or rough. Mainly fair, then squally rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough. Squally rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering northwest, 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, but very rough in west, becoming high for a time in west. Squally rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in far west, becoming slight or moderate in east. Squally showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering northwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in west. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in southwest. Squally rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, backing west later. Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in west, becoming slight in Bristol Channel. Squally showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering northwest, 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in far south. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, backing southwest later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Squally showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough. Rain, then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, backing southwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate, then smooth or slight later. Squally showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West veering northwest 6 or 7, increasing occasionally gale 8. Moderate or rough. Showers, frequent and heavy at first, wintry later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 3 or 4, then backing southwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, falling slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 4 to 6, veering northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, but rough or very rough in north. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west 4 or 5, then south later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in south. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time. Slight or moderate, but smooth at first to the north of the isle of arran, becoming rough in North Channel. Squally wintry showers. Good occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly 3 to 5, then southerly later. Slight or moderate, but rough at first in North Channel, becoming smooth or slight later. Squally wintry showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west and moderate in sheltered east. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing south later, 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, but moderate in east. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, mainly in south. Slight or moderate in central areas, rough or very rough near entrances. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 in south, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southerly 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate in central areas, rough or very rough near entrances. Squally wintry showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, mainly in south. Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 in south, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southerly 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough. Squally wintry showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West veering northwest 6 to gale 8. Very rough or high, but moderate or rough in sheltered east. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Tuesday 24 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC until Wednesday 25 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Showery strong to gale force southwesterly flow will veer northwesterly later in the day.

Forecast: Southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8 Very rough or high. moderate or rough in lee shelter of shetland. Showers, becoming wintry later Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Wednesday 25 Mar until 1800 UTC on Wednesday 25 Mar: Northwest 6 to gale 8 Very rough or high. moderate or rough in lee shelter of shetland. Wintry showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to southwest 6 to 7, veering west to northwest 7 to gale 8 around midnight, decreasing 6 to 7 by midday. Rather rough to rough, increasing rough to very rough around midnight. Occasional rain from at first, clearing to squally showers after midnight, locally heavy with a risk of hail later. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest to north 6 to 7, decreasing 5 to 6 by midnight, further decreasing 4 to 5 around dawn, then decreasing 3 to 4 later. Rough to very rough, decreasing slight to moderate with a low swell by midday. Showers, locally heavy with a risk of hail, becoming isolated later. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.