Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A showery airflow covers much of the coastal waters. Winds will decrease through Saturday with strong winds becoming confined to far northern waters by evening, as an area of high pressure builds across much of the United Kingdom from the southwest. Some showery rain will persist in the northeast.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly, veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north. To the north and west of Orkney, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, but elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later except in north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north and far south. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6 until later in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north and later in far south. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: West veering northwest, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate offshore. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: West 2 to 4, veering northwest, then north later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Showers later. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers, fair later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers later in north. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far east, otherwise southwesterly veering northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate at first in west. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: West veering north, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight, occasionally moderate offshore. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming east or northeast 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: West or northwest veering north, then east or southeast later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in east. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast, becoming variable for a time at first, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate in west. Fair. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5, veering north, then becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in Bristol Channel. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in Bristol Channel. Slight, occasionally moderate in south and smooth in north. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5 veering north or northwest 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in north and later in south. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest veering east or northeast, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, decreasing 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth occasionally slight. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4. Slight, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers, becoming fair later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest veering north, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south and rough at first in far north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 or 4. Moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight except near Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming northerly or northwesterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east and later in west. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 2 to 4, veering north or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Mainly fair. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near entrances and smooth later in central waters. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight occasionally moderate. Showers mainly in north. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first west of the Outer Hebrides and slight later in far south. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally slight between barra and canna and rough at first in north. Showers mainly in north. Good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South veering west, then northwest later, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west and slight later in east. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

Valid Saturday 18 Apr 2026 at 1200 UTC until Sunday 19 Apr 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Low pressure will be slow moving to the north of Shetland.

Forecast: Southerly veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southwest Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west later. Showers Moderate or good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Sunday 19 Apr until 1200 UTC on Sunday 19 Apr: West veering northwest 4 to 6 Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west Showers Moderate or good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 4, perhaps 5 near normandy coast late afternoon, veering northeast overnight, perhaps 5 near alderney late morning. Slight, locally smooth, with a low swell. Fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 to 5, locally 3 at times, veering east after midnight. Slight, locally smooth, with a low and diminishing swell. Fine. Good or very good.