Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
06:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Oct 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 13 Oct 2026
General situation
A ridge of high pressure in the east will quickly move away, as a strengthening southerly or southwesterly flow becomes established across the United Kingdom, bringing strong winds to most areas. Fronts will move in from the Atlantic, bringing outbreaks of rain and drizzle, and fog patches for some western coastlines. Showers will then follow from the west on Tuesday.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southeast veering west or southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth and rough later in north and east. Fair, then rain. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7, veering south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast. Fair, then rain. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast veering west or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly veering westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast veering west or southwest, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly veering westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, then fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches until later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, then fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southeasterly at first in east otherwise westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west. Occasional rain, then fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southeasterly veering southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 for a time later in west. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough in far west. Rain or drizzle, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west. Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain, then fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southeast veering west or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west. Rain, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough west. Rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southeast veering southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east and rough later in west. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west and smooth in east. Rain, then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.
Isle of Man - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering south or southwest, increasing 6 or 7 later, then veering west or southwest 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches for a time, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 or 6, backing south or southwest later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers, fair later. Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly veering westerly or southwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in east. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in southeast. Occasional rain, fog patches at first in east. Good, occasionally poor, occasionally very poor at first in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest. Rain, then showers. 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: Southerly or southeasterly veering westerly or southwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, but mainly smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde, occasionally rough later near Mull of Galloway. Occasional rain, fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in the Firth of Clyde. Rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly veering westerly or southwesterly later 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time, occasionally gale 8 later in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far northwest. Occasional rain, fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough west of Tiree, becoming moderate or rough except in sheltered east. Rain, then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southeast veering west or southwest later, 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Occasional rain, fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southeast veering west or southwest later, 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far west. Occasional rain, fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in east, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, but slight at first in lee shelter of Shetland, becoming rough or very rough later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland - Strong wind warning
Valid Monday 12 Oct 2026 at 0600 UTC until Monday 12 Oct 2026 at 1800 UTC
General situation: Deepening low tracking north to northeast to pass west of the Hebrides late Monday.
Forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in east Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland Occasional rain Good occasionally moderate
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Monday 12 Oct until 0600 UTC on Tuesday 13 Oct: South or southeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough Occasional rain Good occasionally moderate
Channel Islands - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South 5 to 6, veering southwest 4 to 5 mid morning, decreasing 2 to 4 for a time. Slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell, decreasing smooth to slight, with a low to moderate swell, increasing to rather rough especially in the northwest of the area later. Rain and drizzle risk of mist and fog patches. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor or very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 5, locally 6 in the north of the area for a time Tuesday morning, veering west to northwest by midday, decreasing 3 to 4 by midnight, veering southwest later. Smooth or slight with a low swell to the southeast, rather rough to rough to the north and west, generally decreasing slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell later. Rain, perhaps heavy, clearing by midday. Moderate to good, perhaps locally poor at first, becoming good or very good.