Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A showery westerly airflow will lie across the United Kingdom, strong at first in the north. Strong winds and further rain will return to northern and western waters from Saturday night, moving south and eastwards into Sunday, followed by further squally showers, and with gales in the west.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6. To the west and north of Orkney, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. To the west and north of Orkney, moderate or rough, becoming very rough later, but elsewhere, slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far east. Occasional rain then squally showers, perhaps wintry later. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 at times later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Fair then rain, showers later. Good occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, backing southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, then veering west 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair then rain, showers later. Good occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain for a time, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Westerly veering northwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Showers mainly at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly or southwesterly, then veering westerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, decreasing 2 to 4, then becoming variable later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly, then veering westerly later, 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east, becoming rough at times later. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest, then veering west later, 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, decreasing 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight or moderate in east, but elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, backing southwesterly 5 or 6, then veering westerly 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate until later in east, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far west. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times until later, backing west or southwest later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near Lands End, becoming slight or moderate in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later. Showers, rain and drizzle for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, backing west 2 to 4, then southwest 3 to 5 later. Rough at first near St Davids Head, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, rain and drizzle for a time at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing west, then southwest later, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7. Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later. Occasional rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5, backing west or southwest 3 or 4. Slight or moderate becoming slight. Showers later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4, backing south 5 or 6, veering west or southwest 6 or 7 later. Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later. Rain or showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Moderate or rough in far north, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming slight in south. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7, veering westerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in far north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north, becoming very rough or high later in far northwest. Rain then squally showers, perhaps wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Mull of Kintyre. Rough at first near Mull of Kintyre and mainly smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7, veering westerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later near Mull of Kintyre. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in Firth of Clyde, becoming rough at times near Mull of Kintyre. Rain then squally showers, perhaps wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later in west. Showers, squally at first in north, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east, becoming rough or very rough except in sheltered east, then high or very high later in west. Rain then squally showers, wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later near entrances. Showers, squally at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, backing south 7 or gale 8, then veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Rain then squally showers, wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far northwest, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, squally at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, backing south 7 or gale 8, then veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later, occasionally very high later west of the Outer Hebrides. Rain then squally showers, wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6. In sheltered east, moderate or rough occasionally slight, but elsewhere, rough or very rough, becoming rough later. Showers, squally at first. Good.

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

Valid Saturday 14 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC until Saturday 14 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A low over the Norwegian Sea moves away north through Saturday, with the strong, unstable westerly or southwesterly flow over Shetland Waters easing ahead of an approaching frontal trough.

Forecast: West backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later Rough or very rough, but moderate in sheltered eastern waters Squally showers Mainly good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Saturday 14 Mar until 0000 UTC on Sunday 15 Mar: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first Very rough at first in west, otherwise rough, but slight or moderate in sheltered eastern waters. Showers dying out later Mainly good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West 4 to 5, with gust to 35kt near showers, veering northwest by dawn, decreasing 3 to 4 by late morning and 2 to 3 by dusk. Rather rough to rough, gradually decreasing slight to moderate with a moderate swell by dawn, decreasing smooth or slight with a low swell later. Occasional showers, locally heavy with a risk of hail, becoming isolated by mid-morning. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 3, backing southwest 3 to 4 overnight, increasing 4 to 5, locally 6 in the north, by midday, veering west 5 to 6 later, perhaps 7 mid-channel. Smooth or slight with a low swell, increasing rather rough to rough later. Patchy rain and drizzle spreading eastwards, then showers later. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps poor for a time.