Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The strong westerly airflow will continue across northern areas during Saturday night, with showers and gale force winds affecting some Scottish coastal waters. However these winds will gradually ease during Sunday as an area of high pressure builds from the southwest, bringing an interval of fair weather across most of the United Kingdom.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough to the north and west of Orkney, elsewhere mainly moderate or rough, but becoming smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Showers, squally at first in north, becoming fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, then veering southwesterly later and increasing 6 at times in north. Rough at first to the west and north of Orkney, otherwise mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Rain for a time, fog patches later in northwest. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor, but becoming very poor at times later in northwest.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7 veering west or northwest 4 to 6, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time near Rattray Head, then becoming smooth or slight later except near Rattray Head. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times in north and in far south. Mainly smooth or slight, but slight or moderate near Rattray Head. Rain for a time. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west or northwest, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth close inshore. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5 backing southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 at times later. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Rain for a time. Moderate or good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west or northwest, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 or 4, decreasing 2 at times later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly veering northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, decreasing 3 at times later. Slight or moderate near northeastern Norfolk, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first in north and poor at first in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 or 4 becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate at first near northeastern Norfolk, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 or 6 veering northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly northerly 2 or 3 later. Moderate becoming slight, then occasionally smooth later. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6 veering west or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly north 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 2 or 3 becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 in east. Rough at first near the Isles of Scilly, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming smooth or slight in east. Occasional rain or drizzle at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first in east. Slight or moderate from Lizard Point westwards but smooth or slight further east. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: West 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in Bristol Channel, veering north or northwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in east. Occasional rain or drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first in north and poor at first in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate until later near Cornwall, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in far north, veering northwesterly 3 or 4, backing southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 near Anglesey but becoming variable 3 or less for a time in Cardigan Bay. Slight, occasionally smooth in north. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: West 5 or 6 veering northwest 4 or 5, backing west or southwest 2 to 4 later. Moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 2 to 4 backing south or southwest 3 to 5, but becoming variable 2 at times in Liverpool Bay. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate except in Liverpool Bay. Rain for a time, mainly in north. Good, occasionally poor in north.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 5 or 6 decreasing 3 or 4, then backing southwest later. Moderate, becoming slight later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5 for a time. Slight, occasionally moderate for a time. Occasional rain or drizzle for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6 veering northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later, and then south 3 or 4 later. Rough until later in far north, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming smooth or slight later in east. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 at times later. Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain for a time, mainly at first. 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: Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Rough at first near the Mull of Kintyre, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 or 3 becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 5 to 7 veering northwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 2 to 4 later. Rough or very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming slight or moderate in east. Showers, squally at first, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 3 or less for a time later in south. Rough at first near western Tiree, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 6 or 7 decreasing 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later to the east and north of Skye. Squally showers then fair, then occasional rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east and north of Skye. Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, then decreasing 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough until later except near Sutherland and between Barra and Canna, otherwise moderate or rough. Squally showers then fair, then occasional rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 6 to gale 8 veering northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough in north, west and south but moderate or rough in east. Showers, squally at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

Valid Sunday 20 Sep 2026 at 0000 UTC until Sunday 20 Sep 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Low pressure over the Norwegian Basin continues east as a ridge follows from the west on Sunday.

Forecast: West veering northwest, 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough, but moderate east of Shetland. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Sunday 20 Sep until 0000 UTC on Monday 21 Sep: Northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough, but moderate east of Shetland. Showers, soon becoming fair. Good, occasionally moderate or poor at first.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West to southwest 4 to 5, veering north to northwest 2 to 4 by mid-morning, veering northeast 2 to 3 later, locally variable from around midday. Slight to moderate, generally decreasing smooth to slight by mid-morning a low swell throughout. Patchy rain or drizzle with a risk of mist patches, spreading in from the north of the area and clearing early afternoon. Good, locally moderate or perhaps poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 3, locally variable, veering east 3 to 4 around dusk. Slight to moderate, with a low swell. Fair. Good.