Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure will retreat into the Atlantic, allowing an increasingly strong, cold and showery northwesterly flow to spread southwards. The flow will become particularly strong and cold across northeastern waters on New Year's Day, where severe gales will be accompanied by heavy snow showers.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 6 to gale 8 veering northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 near Orkney, perhaps storm 10 later near Rattray Head. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, elsewhere moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high to the west and north of Orkney. Showers, becoming squally and turning to sleet or snow. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first and very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times. Very rough or high to the west and north of Orkney and moderate in Moray Firth, but elsewhere rough or very rough. Squally snow showers. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north, perhaps storm 10 later near Rattray Head. Mainly slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far north and far south, and becoming very rough later near Rattray Head. Mainly fair then showers, becoming wintry later in north. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 near Rattray Head. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far north and far south and slight in Firth of Forth. Snow showers, mainly in north. Good, occasionally very poor in north.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5 backing west or southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate, becoming rough later. Showers for a time. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough. Wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5 backing west or southwest 5 or 6, veering northwest 5 to 7 later. Moderate, occasionally rough later near Whitby. Showers, mainly later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and 5 in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north. Showers, mainly in north, and becoming wintry. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 4 increasing 5 or 6, then backing southwesterly for a time later in north, occasionally 7 later in north. Slight or moderate. Showers later in north. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near northeastern Norfolk, decreasing 4 at times in south. Moderate or rough in north, slight or moderate in south. Wintry showers near northeastern Norfolk. Good, occasionally poor near northeastern Norfolk.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 backing westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, then westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or 3 becoming west or northwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in east. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 3 to 5 at first in west, otherwise variable 3 or less, becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Showers in far west. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5, veering north or northwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Showers in west. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming west or northwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north, veering northwesterly 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers then rain or sleet. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5 backing west or southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming moderate, then occasionally slight again later in north. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in Morecambe Bay and Solway Firth. Moderate or rough in south, slight or moderate in north. Showers, turning wintry later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7, then veering northwest later. Slight, becoming moderate occasionally rough. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 5 to 7. Moderate or rough. Showers, turning wintry later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 except in south. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming rough in north. Fair at first in south, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in North Channel, decreasing 4 at times in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north and slight in south. Showers, turning to sleet or snow later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in North Channel. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough except in far north. Fair at first in south, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in North Channel, decreasing 4 at times in far north. Slight in far north, elsewhere mainly moderate or rough, but occasionally very rough at first in North Channel. Showers, turning to sleet or snow later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first and very poor later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 to 6 veering north or northwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except in shelter. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 at times later in east. Mainly moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west, but slight or moderate in shelter. Squally showers, turning to sleet or snow. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first and very poor later.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 4 to 6 veering northwest 6 to gale 8. In far north, rough becoming very rough, elsewhere, slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Showers, turning squally and wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later. Very rough in far north, elsewhere moderate or rough, but becoming slight or moderate to the south and east of Skye. Squally sleet or snow showers. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 4 to 6 veering northwest 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate at first in south, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming high later in north. Showers, turning squally and wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later. High at first in far north, otherwise mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough between Barra and Canna. Squally sleet or snow showers. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 6 to gale 8 veering northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time later. In north, west and south, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, but in east, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. Showers, becoming squally and wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first and very poor later.

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

Valid Wednesday 31 Dec 2025 at 1200 UTC until Thursday 01 Jan 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: A strong westerly or northwesterly airstream will become northerly overnight with showers turning to sleet or snow.

Forecast: Westerly veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in west. Rough or very rough, becoming high later in west, but moderate just east of Shetland. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Thursday 01 Jan until 1200 UTC on Thursday 01 Jan: Northwest veering north 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first. Very rough or high, but moderate or rough at first just east of Shetland. Snow showers. Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East 2 to 3, locally 4 in the south, becoming variable for a time, then west to southwest 3 to 4 in the south, and northwest 4 to 5 in the north, by dawn. Smooth or slight. Occasional showers, mainly in the north, a risk of mist or fog patches in the far southeast early Friday. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor or very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 5 in the far south until dusk, otherwise northwest 4 to 5, increasing 6 in the far north later. Slight, occasionally moderate mid-channel. Scattered showers, perhaps heavy with hail later. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor later.