Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure centred out in the Atlantic extends a ridge eastwards across the British Isles. This will give a strong northeasterly flow in the south. The ridge will eventually decline southwards, and allow a frontal trough to move into the north later on Sunday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 or 5, then veering north or northwest 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far northwest and smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 5 or 6, backing northwest 4 or 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in Moray Firth. Rain at first in south, then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first in south.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Northeast becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming west or northwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate near Rattray Head. Showers, rain later in north. Good, occasionally moderate later in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5, veering north 5 or 6, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough near Rattray Head. Rain at first, then showers, fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Northeast 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at first, then showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 5 or 6, then backing northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later. Fair at first, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 or 5, veering northeast 5 or 6, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at first, then showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 5 or 6. Slight, becoming moderate or rough later. Fair at first, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later in north. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northwesterly 3 or 4, then increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far northeast. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first, and increasing 7 at times later. Moderate, occasionally slight at first. Fair at first, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 6 or 7, backing northerly 4 or 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later. Moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Rain at first, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East 2 to 4, backing northeast 5 or 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Fair at first, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 5 or 6, backing north 4 or 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers later. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far west. Showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast backing north 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing northwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, but rough at first in far west. Showers later. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far west. Showers, fair later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in west, backing northerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Showers later. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast backing northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, then veering north 3 or 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair at first, then showers. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Northeast, backing west or northwest later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in west. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate. Fair at first, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: North or northeast, backing northwest later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5, veering north or northeast 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4, then backing northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in North Channel, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northwesterly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde. Showers. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, veering north 3 or 4, then backing northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in shelter. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5, veering northeast 2 to 4, then becoming variable later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in shelter. Showers, fair later. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or northwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far northeast. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate, occasionally rough later. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, backing west 3 or 4, then veering north 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

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

Valid Saturday 09 May 2026 at 1800 UTC until Sunday 10 May 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Showery northwesterly flow covers Shetland Waters. Low pressure system pushes southeast across Shetland Waters through Sunday afternoon.

Forecast: Northwest 4 or 5 Rough, but moderate southeast of shetland, and slight in lee shelter just east of shetland. Showers Good, occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Sunday 10 May until 1800 UTC on Sunday 10 May: Northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming north 5 or 6 later Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter just east of shetland Showers at first, then rain Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 4 to 5, increasing 5 to 6 with gusts to 35kt overnight, perhaps locally 7 later. Smooth or slight, increasing slight to moderate after midnight, further increasing rather rough to rough in the north and west by mid-morning. Scattered showers, perhaps locally heavy and thundery, becoming isolated after midnight. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 5 to 6 with gusts to 40kt, perhaps locally 7 until dawn, backing northwest 3 to 4 later. Moderate to rather rough, decreasing smooth or slight with a low swell around midday. Isolated showers, mainly dying out patchy rain overnight, clearing southward after dawn. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.