Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A front will clear away from eastern and far northern waters as a cool and showery westerly flow becomes established across the United Kingdom. An Atlantic frontal system will bring rain, along with strong winds, to many western waters later on Monday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight until later in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Firth of Forth, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate until later, then becoming smooth at times later. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers, mainly in south. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5 for a time. Moderate becoming slight. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Showers. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South or southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Rain at first, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times later. Slight. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic, becoming southerly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight occasionally moderate. Rain at first, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly later, 3 to 5. Slight occasionally moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Rain at first in east, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest 4 or 5, then backing south 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming rough near Isles of Scilly. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, backing south later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far west. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate or poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5, backing southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later except in far east. Showers, thundery rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southwest 5 or 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough in west. Occasional rain or showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5, backing southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near St Davids Head. Showers, thundery rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north. Occasional rain or showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south. Slight occasionally moderate. Showers, becoming thundery later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, thundery at first, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: West backing southwest, 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate in south. Mainly fair at first, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south, 3 or less, backing southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later in west. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then variable 3 or less later. Slight, occasionally moderate in far north. Showers, becoming thundery at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight until later except in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers then fair, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre and smooth in northeast. Showers, becoming thundery at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate near Mull of Kintyre, becoming moderate later in North Channel. Showers then fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times in west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, but rough at first in northwest. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, but mainly smooth or slight near skye. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Showers then mainly fair. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate near Sutherland, otherwise moderate or rough. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6 later in south. Moderate, occasionally slight near Sutherland and rough at first elsewhere. Showers then mainly fair. Good.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Moderate, occasionally slight east of Shetland. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

Valid Sunday 17 May 2026 at 0000 UTC until Sunday 17 May 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A complex and shallow area of low pressure will cover Shetland Waters on Sunday.

Forecast: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast later. Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast. Showers Good occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Sunday 17 May until 0000 UTC on Monday 18 May: South or southeast 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally rough in west Rain or showers Good occasionally moderate

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northwest to west 3 to 4, backing west 4 to 5 later. Slight to moderate with a low swell. Isolated showers, perhaps locally heavy. Good or very good, locally moderate or perhaps poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 3, backing south 3 to 4 for a time. Slight to moderate with a low swell. Patchy rain or showers spreading in from the northwest overnight. Good or very good, locally moderate or perhaps poor at times.