Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of low pressure will move eastwards across the English Channel and northern France during the next 24 hours and another area of low pressure will move eastwards towards western Scotland during Thursday. As a consequence conditions will remain unsettled across the inshore waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in Moray Firth. Mainly fair, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time in west. Moderate or rough, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Fair at first in east, otherwise rain at times. Moderate or good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast mainly 5 or 6, but 3 to 5 in Firth of Forth. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north and 3 in Firth of Forth. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Firth of Forth. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later. Moderate becoming rough. Rain later in south. Good, occasionally moderate later in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 or 5 veering southwest 3 or 4, backing south 4 to 6 later. Rough becoming moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Mainly fair then rain. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 or 5 veering west 2 to 4, backing south or southwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain. Moderate or good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time, backing easterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Fair then rain. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 5 to 7 decreasing 3 to 5, then becoming cyclonic later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then north or northwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 to 6 backing west or northwest 3 to 5, then southwest 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 then northwesterly 4 to 6, but increasing 7 or gale 8 in far west. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high in west. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far west, then backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later. Very rough or high at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming slight or moderate in east. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in northwest, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 later, then increasing 6 or 7 later near western Cornwall. Slight or moderate in east, mainly moderate or rough in west, but becoming rough or very rough later near Cornwall. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near Cornwall, backing southwest 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally slight in far east. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 to gale 8 backing east 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 2 to 4 becoming west 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 to gale 8 backing east or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west and smooth later in east. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast becoming variable, 3 or less, then becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later, occasionally rough later in northwest. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 7 or gale 8 decreasing 5 or 6, then 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight later. Occasional rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 2 or 3 veering west 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight, becoming moderate or rough later. Fair then rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6, then 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 2 to 4 veering west or southwest 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in North Channel, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough until later in North Channel, otherwise slight, but occasionally smooth later in far north. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4 veering westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in south and west, decreasing 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west and slight in sheltered east. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 6 veering west or southwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time in west and slight in sheltered east. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south and west, veering southerly 3 or 4 later in east and north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west and south and smooth in east. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in north, veering southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east and rough in west and south. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in south, veering southerly 3 or 4 later in north. Rough or very rough at first in far south, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in north, veering southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 2 to 4 increasing 5 or 6. Moderate or rough. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Valid Wednesday 18 Feb 2026 at 1200 UTC until Thursday 19 Feb 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Ridge of high pressure declines as low pressure over the west of Scotland begins to extend over Shetland waters on Thursday.

Forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6. Rough, but moderate in the lee of Shetland. Wintry showers dying out. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Thursday 19 Feb until 1200 UTC on Thursday 19 Feb: Southerly 4 to 6, perhaps 7 later in the southeast Rough. Mainly fair, but rain later in far west. Good.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southeast 4 to 5, perhaps occasionally 6, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 for a time late evening, then northwest 5 to 7 after midnight. Slight to moderate with a low swell, increasing rather rough to rough after midnight, occasionally very rough in the west later. Rain or showers locally heavy, occasional drizzle, mist or fog, mainly at first, a risk of thunderstorms at first. Moderate or good, locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 6, backing west 4 to 5 after midnight and southwest 5 to 7 later. Rather rough to rough, occasionally very rough in the west at first, decreasing slight to moderate with a low swell later. Risk of showers at first, mainly in the west of the area, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.