Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
06:00 (UTC) on Sat 16 May 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 17 May 2026
General situation
The United Kingdom lies in a light westerly or northwesterly airflow. Through today, an Atlantic frontal system will slowly move eastwards to bring outbreaks of rain or drizzle, followed by further rain or showers on Sunday.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming south or southwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough later west of Orkney. Rain or showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Rough at first near Rattray Head, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers at first in north, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Moderate at first near Rattray Head, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain or showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: West or northwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4, becoming southeast, then veering west or southwest later, 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally rough at first and slight later. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Showers. Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: West becoming variable, then south or southwest later, 2 to 4. Moderate, occasionally slight in south. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest 2 to 4. Moderate at first in north, otherwise slight. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
24 hour forecast: Westerly becoming variable, then southwesterly later, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth in the Thames estuary, otherwise slight, occasionally moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, becoming variable for a time, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, backing west or southwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate. Showers. Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly
24 hour forecast: Southwest, veering west or northwest, 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near the Isles of Scilly. Showers. Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate in west. Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southwest. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good occasionally poor.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West 2 or 3, backing southwest, then veering west later, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south. Slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwest 2 or 3, backing south or southwest, then veering west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest for a time, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, then decreasing 3 at times later. Slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: West 2 or 3, backing south or southwest 3 or 4, then veering and increasing west 4 or 5. Slight, building slight or moderate later. Fair, then outbreaks of rain and drizzle for a time. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5, backing southwest, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, falling slight later. Fair, then occasional showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 or 4, then veering west 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north. Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable, then becoming south or southwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate in north. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly 3 or 4, then veering westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near the Mull of Kintyre. Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight, but moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 or 4, then veering west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in west. Rain or drizzle, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Moderate, occasionally rough in west and slight in eastern shelter. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in central areas, otherwise moderate. Showers. Good.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later. Slight at first in south, otherwise moderate, occasionally rough later. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good.
Shetland Isles
24 hour forecast: North 4 or 5, backing northwest, then backing southwest later, 2 to 4. Rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate, occasionally slight in south. Rain at times. Moderate or good.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Saturday 16 May 2026 at 0600 UTC until Saturday 16 May 2026 at 1800 UTC
General situation: A complex and shallow area of low pressure will cover Shetland Waters over the weekend.
Forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Showers. Moderate or good.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Saturday 16 May until 0600 UTC on Sunday 17 May: Cyclonic 2 to 4. Moderate. Showers. Moderate or good.
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: West 3 to 4, backing southwest 4 to 5 by midday, veering west to northwest by midnight. Smooth to slight, increasing slight to moderate. Showers, merging into rain at times, perhaps locally heavy in the southeast this afternoon. Good or very good, locally moderate or perhaps poor at times.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 4 to 5, locally 3 at first. Slight with a low swell developing, locally moderate at times. Isolated showers at first patchy rain spreading in from the northwest overnight. Good or very good, locally moderate or perhaps poor at times.