Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A large area of high pressure, centred over eastern England, will move away eastwards during Thursday. An Atlantic frontal system follows from the west, bringing rain and strong, locally gale force winds to northern areas.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast, veering southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later near Cape Wrath. To the north and west of Orkney, moderate becoming rough or very rough later, elsewhere smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north and east. Rain for a time, showers later in west. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near Cape Wrath. To the north and west of Orkney, rough or very rough, elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers, turning squally or thundery later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South, backing southwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near Rattray Head. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near Rattray Head. Slight occasionally moderate. Mainly fair, squally showers later near Rattray Head. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first near Whitby. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 2 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southwest later. Slight occasionally smooth. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5, then veering southwest later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 to 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly, veering northerly or northwesterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly, becoming variable for a time, 2 to 4, then veering southeasterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly, veering northerly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Slight occasionally smooth. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East or southeast, becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5, then backing north later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming westerly or northwesterly later. To the west of the Lizard peninsula, slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far west, elsewhere, smooth or slight. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in east, then becoming variable 3 or less later in west. To the west of the Lizard peninsula, slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, elsewhere, smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in the inner Bristol Channel, becoming rough later in far southwest. Occasional rain and drizzle later. Good, occasionally or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5, then backing west later near St Davids Head. Smooth at first in the inner Bristol Channel, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough to the southwest of padstow. Occasional rain and drizzle at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeast, veering southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near Anglesey, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Occasional rain and drizzle. Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north. Rain and drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate or poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeast, veering southwest, 4 to 6, then veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later. Smooth, becoming slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth. Occasional rain at first, showers later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 then veering west 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Occasional rain or drizzle later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Occasional rain then fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far north. Rain for a time, showers later in north. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far northwest. Occasionally rough in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Rain for a time. Good occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later near the Mull of Kintyre. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Mull of Kintyre. Showers later. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north. Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later. Rain and drizzle for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north and west. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in shelter. Squally showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor later.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, then veering southwest later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough. Rain and drizzle for a time, squally showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 or 5 for a time. Moderate or rough, becoming slight in central areas later. Squally showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, then veering southwest later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later. Rain and drizzle for a time, squally showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 or 5 for a time. Very rough or high, occasionally rough later. Squally showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7, veering southwest 4 to 6 later. In east, smooth or slight, becoming moderate later, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain for a time later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

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

Valid Thursday 24 Sep 2026 at 0600 UTC until Thursday 24 Sep 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Deep low to the northwest sweeping associated fronts through your location late Thursday and early Friday

Forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 6 or 7 Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland Occasional rain later Good occasionally moderate later

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Thursday 24 Sep until 0600 UTC on Friday 25 Sep: South 6 or 7, veering southwest 5 or 6 Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high in west Occasional rain, then showers later Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East to southeast 2 to 4, becoming locally variable 1 to 2 by midday, veering southeast to south by midnight, further veering west to northwest later. Smooth or slight with a low swell. Mist or fog patches mainly in the east of the area around dawn. Good or very good, locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 3 to 4, veering northwest to north by midday, increasing 4 to 5 by midnight, then veering north to northeast light f3 later. Smooth or slight with a low to moderate swell. Risk of mist or fog patches near french coast at first. Good or very good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.