Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A slack airflow covers much of the United Kingdom, with only light or moderate breezes affecting most english and welsh coastal areas. Further north an area of low pressure moving northeastwards between Scotland and Iceland will give fresh or strong winds but these generally easing through Friday, before increasing in parts of the west.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere moderate, occasionally slight in south and rough in north. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney, smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in south and moderate later in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north and smooth later in south. Fair then showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near Whitby. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less for a time, occasionally 5 later in far north. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly backing easterly or northeasterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly, becoming variable for a time, 2 to 4. Smooth occasionally slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Showers later. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 in east and 6 in west. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Mainly fair then occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5 later in west. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in west, occasionally rough later near St Davids Head. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first near western Anglesey, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth occasionally slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first and 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near St Davids Head. Showers later. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest veering north or northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then north 4 or 5 later. Mainly slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 4 or 5, veering northeast later. Mainly slight. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north or northeast 3 to 5 later. Moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 4 to 6. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers later. Good.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 or 5, veering westerly 2 to 4, then northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in North Channel. Showers later. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far west. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east and rough at first in far northwest. Showers. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth to the east of skye. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest, veering northeast for a time, 3 to 5. In northeast, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near northern entrance, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later between barra and canna. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest, veering northeast for a time, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate between barra and canna, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, veering west later. Moderate or rough. Rain at times, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Thursday 07 May 2026 at 1800 UTC until Friday 08 May 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Atlantic low will drift northeast towards Faeroes, pushing associated fronts across Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southeast veering south or southwest 5 to 7 Rough, becoming moderate later just east of shetland Rain at times Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 08 May until 1800 UTC on Friday 08 May: South or southwest 5 to 7 Rough, becoming moderate south and east of shetland Rain or showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East to southeast 2 to 4, locally variable 1 to 2, backing east to northeast 4 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Isolated showers until midday tomorrow risk of mist or fog patches near french coast overnight. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 4 to 5, decreasing 2 to 4 after midnight. Smooth or slight. Isolated showers after midnight, perhaps locally with thunder. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.