Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Low pressure over the Atlantic will bring a moderate to fresh southwesterly flow to northern and western waters, with rain and fog patches here at times. Elsewhere, high pressure builds over the south and east to bring settled and increasingly warm conditions to all areas away from the north of Scotland.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest, backing southeast for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later near Cape Wrath. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times near Cape Wrath. Moderate or rough west of Orkney, elsewhere smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near Rattray Head. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Smooth or slight. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southerly backing southeasterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in north. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly, becoming variable, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in north. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly, becoming variable later, 2 or 3, occasionally 4 in west. Slight, occasionally smooth in east. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, mainly southeasterly at first, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth in east. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East veering south or southeast, then becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth near shore. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 or 3, occasionally 4 at first. Slight, occasionally smooth near shore. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in lyme bay. Occasional drizzle and fog patches in far west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in far west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in lyme bay. Occasional drizzle and fog patches in west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly, then becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Occasional drizzle and fog patches later in west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 or 5 for a time in the inner Bristol Channel. Moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Occasional drizzle and fog patches in west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeast veering south or southwest, 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle and fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less at times in Cardigan Bay. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle and fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Southeast veering south or southwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later in Liverpool Bay. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Liverpool Bay. Rain at first in north, occasional drizzle and fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less at times in Liverpool Bay. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches later in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in north.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 or 5, backing southeast 3 or 4 for a time. Moderate, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain and drizzle, risk of fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, falling slight. Occasional rain and drizzle at first, risk of fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in south. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, becoming fair for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in east. Rain at first, then occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming fair for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 or 5, decreasing 3 at times in shelter. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming fair for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in shelter of skye. Rain or drizzle, becoming fair for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in shelter of skye. Rain then showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times later. Moderate, occasionally rough later in west. Rain or drizzle, becoming fair for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough. Rain then showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in west. Moderate, but slight east of Shetland. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Thursday 21 May 2026 at 1800 UTC until Friday 22 May 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: A mostly light to moderate southerly or southwesterly airstream covers Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in east. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 22 May until 1800 UTC on Friday 22 May: South or southwest 3 or 4. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Easterly 3 to 4 locally 2, veering southeast by midnight, locally variable 1 to 3 from late morning. Smooth, locally slight, with a low swell. Risk of mist or fog patches in the west from mid-morning. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 2 to 4, becoming northwest 2 to 4 overnight, then variable 1 to 3 in the morning, then north 2 to 4 in the afternoon. Smooth, locally slight, with a low swell. Very small risk of a thundery shower in the far west overnight risk of mist or fog patches. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.