Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The United Kingdom will continue to lie in a cool and showery north to northwesterly airflow during Friday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough at first in east, otherwise mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in Moray Firth. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Showers then fair, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far north, then becoming variable 3 at times in south. Slight or moderate in Firth of Forth, elsewhere mainly moderate or rough, but very rough at first near Rattray Head. Showers, becoming fair later in south. Good, occasionally moderate in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5 backing southeast 2 to 4, veering south or southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north but becoming smooth or slight in Firth of Forth. Showers at first in north, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 or 6 decreasing 2 to 4. Rough, becoming moderate later. Showers, becoming fair later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 2 or less then southeast 3 to 5, then veering west or southwest later. Moderate, occasionally slight later. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 2 or less then south or southeast 3 or 4, veering west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Rough at first in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first near northern and eastern Norfolk, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time at first near northeastern Norfolk but occasionally smooth elsewhere. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate until later near northeastern Norfolk, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in east. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 backing southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in east. Slight, occasionally smooth at first and moderate later. Mainly fair, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 2 to 4, backing west or northwest 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4 backing southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair, then rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, backing west 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, veering northwest later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly backing northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight in east, but in west, moderate, becoming slight later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming west or southwest 4 or 5, then veering northwest later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate in west. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing west or northwest 2 to 4. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable mainly west 2 to 4 backing southwest 3 to 5, then veering west or northwest later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: North backing northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later in Morecambe Bay and Solway Firth. Slight or moderate until later in south and west, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, but mainly northwest at first, 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then becoming west 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain or showers. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, backing west or northwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest backing south or southwest, 3 or 4, then veering west or southwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain and drizzle for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing west or southwest 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 2 or 3 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then becoming west or southwest again later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain at times, then showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in North Channel, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate until later except in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers, becoming fair later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 2 or 3 backing southerly 3 to 5, then veering westerly or southwesterly later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair then rain, then showers later. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming southeast 3 to 5, then veering west or southwest later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then becoming rough later in west. Fair then rain, then showers later. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight in south, mainly slight or moderate in north, but occasionally rough until later in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 in south, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 3 or less later. Moderate or rough until later in north, otherwise mainly slight or moderate, but becoming smooth or slight between Barra and Canna. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 in south, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight at first between Barra and Canna, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming rough later to the west of the Outer Hebrides. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland

Valid Friday 15 May 2026 at 0600 UTC until Friday 15 May 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Deep low pressure over southern Scandinavia maintains a strong to gale force north or northwesterly airstream over Shetland waters.

Forecast: North or northwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Friday 15 May until 0600 UTC on Saturday 16 May: North or northwest 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 4, perhaps locally 5 at first, backing northwesterly early afternoon, increasing 4 to 5 by evening, decreasing 3 to 4 again by dawn. Slight, locally smooth at times, with a low swell. Isolated showers at times. Good, locally moderate at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 4, backing west to southwest by midday, increasing 4 to 5 by dusk, veering west to northwest by dawn Sunday. Smooth to slight, increasing slight to moderate. Isolated showers, likely merging into rain for a time. Good, locally moderate or perhaps poor at times.