Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure over the north Atlantic will continue to bring an east to northeasterly flow across the United Kingdom, with strong winds across many southern and western waters and gales at first in the far southwest. Fair conditions will dominate, although there will be some patchy light rain in the far southwest.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: East or northeast, veering southeast later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate at first in north, otherwise smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast becoming variable, 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in Firth of Forth and 2 elsewhere, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in far south. Mainly fair, but occasional drizzle at first in north. Good, occasionally moderate at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southeast 2 to 4 for a time. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Northeast 3 to 5, veering east 2 or 3 later. Moderate at first except in far north, otherwise slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable mainly east, becoming southeast later, 2 to 4. Slight. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 or 3 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in west, decreasing 4 at times close inshore. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first from Prawle Point westwards. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in Lyme Bay. Mainly fair, but showers in west. Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 in east. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 5 to 7 veering east or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west. Mainly fair, but showers for a time near Cornwall. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast, backing northeast at times in Severn Estuary, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 except in far north. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Cardigan Bay and Caernarfon Bay. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Mainly smooth or slight, but becoming moderate at times in far north and far south. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southeast 4 or 5 later near great orme head. Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 to 6 decreasing 3 or 4, then veering east or southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight for a time later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in southwest, backing easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in north. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 4 to 6 veering southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, veering easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 for a time. Slight or moderate in North Channel, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate at first in North Channel, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south, becoming variable 2 at times later in north. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near the Mull of Kintyre, becoming variable 3 or less except to the south and west of Islay. Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in west and north, becoming variable 2 at times in east and south. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less in north. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight to the east of the Outer Hebrides. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less in north. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time in south. Fair. Good.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: North 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then west or northwest 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight, then occasionally moderate again later in far north. Fair. Good.

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

Valid Wednesday 22 Apr 2026 at 0000 UTC until Wednesday 22 Apr 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Ridge of high pressure covers Shetland Waters

Forecast: North or northeast backing mainly northwest, 2 to 4 Smooth or slight, but moderate at first in west Fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Wednesday 22 Apr until 0000 UTC on Thursday 23 Apr: Mainly west or northwest 2 to 4 Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in north Fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 5 to 6 with gusts to 40kt, perhaps occasionally 7 in the north and west of the area, locally 4 in the southeast of the area from midday. Moderate to rather rough, locally rough in the northwest until dusk. Risk of patchy light rain in the far southwest Wednesday afternoon. Good, perhaps locally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 4 to 5, locally 6 at times. Slight to moderate, rather rough in the north and west. Fair. Good.