Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The showery westerly or southwesterly flow over the United Kingdom will give way to a mild southerly or southwesterly flow during the next couple of days. There will be some fresh or strong winds at times. Fog patches will also develop for a time in the south.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming south 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, slight or moderate elsewhere, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Showers at first, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South veering southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, slight or moderate elsewhere, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, decreasing 3 for a time. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers at first, occasional rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate in north. Rain then fair. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest backing south 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight, becoming moderate for a time offshore. Mainly fair, occasional rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Rain then fair. Moderate or good,.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight, occasionally moderate in north. Mainly fair, occasional rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Rain then fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Mainly fair, occasional rain and fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly backing southerly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain and fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in the dover straits, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally slight later. Occasional rain, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly backing southerly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle and fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, backing 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain and fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle and fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, but rough or very rough west of Lizard Point. Occasional rain and fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly backing southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Slight or moderate, but rough west of Lizard Point. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in inner Bristol Channel. Occasional rain and fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly backing southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in inner Bristol Channel. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, but mainly slight east of Anglesey. Occasional rain and fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, decreasing 3 for a time. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in south. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 or 6, decreasing south or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate becoming slight for a time. Fair then rain for a time rain and drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 or 6. Moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, backing southerly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough off the north coast. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle at times. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near Mull of Kintyre, decreasing 3 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near Mull of Kintyre. Rain or showers. Moderate good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in North Channel, occasionally 3 in east. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in North Channel. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 5 to 7 backing south 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west, and occasionally moderate in sheltered east. Squally showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west, and slight at times in sheltered east. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time. Slight or moderate, but rough or very rough south of skye. Squally showers then fair, but rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 for a time, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in south and west. Squally showers then fair, but rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 for a time, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate near Sutherland. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southwest becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough. Showers then mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Valid Monday 23 Feb 2026 at 0600 UTC until Monday 23 Feb 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Complex area of low pressure across Shetland Waters will fill this morning. Weak ridge of high pressure will build from the west in the afternoon.

Forecast: Mainly westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, veering northeasterly 3 or 4 later in north Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west Showers at first Good, occasionally moderate or poor at first

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Monday 23 Feb until 0600 UTC on Tuesday 24 Feb: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 4 to 6 Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west Mainly fair, rain later in southwest Mainly good, moderate or poor later in southwest

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 3 in the southeast, backing south after midnight. Slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell, occasionally rather rough mid channel. Mist or fog patches and occasional rain or drizzle, from afternoon. Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South to southeast 4 to 5, decreasing 3 to 4 later. Slight to moderate with a low swell. Risk of mist or fog patches at first and again later. Good, perhaps locally moderate to very poor.