Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure, centred over the northern North Sea, will maintain settled weather for much of the United Kingdom. Strong and gusty easterly winds will affect more southern waters of England and Wales, with gales in the far south and southwest during Wednesday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 in west, otherwise southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later in east. Smooth at first in the Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough in north. Fog patches at first in far northwest. Moderate or good occasionally very poor in far northwest.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 in far west, otherwise southeasterly, veering southerly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in east, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor in far northwest.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 near Rattray Head and later elsewhere. Slight, occasionally smooth at first and moderate later. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast, veering south, 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 for a time. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: East 2 to 4, veering southeast 4 or 5. Slight, occasionally moderate in south. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly, veering southeasterly later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south. Moderate, occasionally slight at first in north. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate occasionally slight. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly veering easterly, 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first near North Foreland. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly veering southeasterly, 4 or 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly veering southeasterly later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later near shore. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast veering east, 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near shore. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor later in west.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later. Showers in west. Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in east. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast, veering east, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far west. Showers near Lands End. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast veering east, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near St Davids Head, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near the llyn peninsula and later Cardigan Bay. Fair, showers later in south. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near St Davids Head. Showers. Good occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast 4 or 5, veering east 5 or 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in the southwest. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 4 to 6, de 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Fair, showers later. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south. Slight or moderate, but smooth for a time near copeland islands. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 4 to 6, veering southeasterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly easterly, 3 or 4, occasional 5 in North Channel. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in the North Channel. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in the North Channel. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Variable, but mainly southeast, 3 or 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally rough in far west. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far west. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate later.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 2 to 4, veering south 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough in west. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor at first in north.

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

Valid Wednesday 29 Apr 2026 at 1200 UTC until Thursday 30 Apr 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: High pressure remains centred in the North Sea remains slow moving

Forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4 Moderate, becoming rough in west. slight east of shetland. Mainly fair. Fog patches. Good. Occasionally poor or very poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Thursday 30 Apr until 1200 UTC on Thursday 30 Apr: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later Moderate, but rough in west. slight east of shetland. Fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 5 to 6, occasionally 4 in the south, locally 7 in the north, decreasing 4 to 5 by dawn, veering southeasterly 3 in the southeast later. Slight in the southeast, otherwise moderate to rather rough or rough. Isolated showers at first, perhaps heavy and thundery, mainly in the south and west. Good, locally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 3 to 4, locally 5 in the north at first, veering south to southeast by midnight. Smooth in the southeast, otherwise slight to rather rough, generally becoming smooth to slight with a low swell by dusk. Risk of fog patches towards dawn Friday. Good, locally moderate, perhaps locally very poor towards dawn Friday.