Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A strong and strengthening southwesterly flow lies across much of the United Kingdom bringing strong or gale force winds to many northern and western areas, and with storm force winds for a time for northwest Scotland. Winds will then gradually decrease through Wednesday night and Thursday, as a front with rain across the northwest gradually edges southeast, followed by showers.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 for a time at first in far northwest, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in northwest, occasionally high later north of Orkney. Occasional rain, showers later in northwest. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. In northwest, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain at first in southeast, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time in north. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 to 7 at first in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7. Slight occasionally moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Rain for a time. Moderate or good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, veering northwest later, 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, backing southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Slight, occasionally moderate in northeast. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later in northwest, 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate in east. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate in west. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or 3, becoming south or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, veering northwest 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally slight in far east and rough in west. Occasional drizzle later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, veering northwest later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate or rough west of the Lizard peninsula, elsewhere to the east, slight or moderate. Drizzle at times, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far east. Occasional drizzle or showers later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, veering northwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near St Davids Head. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far east. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then increasing gale 8 at times in north. Moderate becoming moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, veering northwesterly 3 to 5. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain at times, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 except in far southeast. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except in Liverpool Bay. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering northwesterly 3 to 5. Moderate or rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Rain at times, showers later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, then slight later. Rain, becoming fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming good later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in north. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Fair then rain at times. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first in south, otherwise cyclonic becoming westerly, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north and at first elsewhere. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later except near Mull of Galloway. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except in northeast. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first near Mull of Galloway, otherwise cyclonic becoming westerly, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in North Channel. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough in sheltered east, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high west of Tiree. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 7 or gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, then decreasing 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight east of skye, becoming rough or very rough for a time except in shelter east of skye. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first near entrances. Showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 7 or gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, then decreasing 5 to 7. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high except near Sutherland and Ardnamurchan Point. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west and far north. Showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, then decreasing 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east, becoming high later in west and far north. Rain at times, then showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Wednesday 14 Oct 2026 at 0600 UTC until Wednesday 14 Oct 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: A rapidly deepening low moves northeast towards Iceland on Wednesday, then moves north of Iceland early Thursday.

Forecast: South 5 to 7 increasing 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 in west Rough or very rough, but moderate just east of shetland at first, becoming very rough or high Rain at times Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Wednesday 14 Oct until 0600 UTC on Thursday 15 Oct: South 7 to severe gale 9 veering southwest 5 to 7 Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in west Rain then showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: South 2 to 3, increasing 3 to 4 by midday, perhaps locally 5 mid-channel from dusk. Smooth to slight, with a low swell. Mist or fog patches, mainly near the french coast, at first and perhaps again later. Good, locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 to 4, locally 5 mid-channel at first, occasionally 2 in the south of the area, veering southwest 4 to 5 by midnight, then northwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth to slight with a low to moderate swell, becoming slight to moderate later, perhaps locally rather rough. A risk of mist or fog patches at first, rain spreading eastwards after midnight. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor at first, occasionally moderate later.