Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Low pressure in the eastern North Sea will maintain a strong northerly flow to eastern waters, and a cold front will clear to the south at first, otherwise winds will be mainly light or moderate, with some rain later today in the far north. A strengthening and showery westerly or northwesterly flow will then develop, with strong winds in the north by Tuesday morning, and for western and southern waters later on Tuesday into Wednesday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly later, occasionally 7 later in northwest. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth, becoming moderate or rough later in northwest. Mainly fair, then rain, showers later. Good occasionally moderate, but poor in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable, mainly northerly, 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth and moderate or rough in northwest. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair, rain then showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight for a time. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 to 6, backing west 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly 4 to 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Moderate or rough at first in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, becoming mainly fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southwesterly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6 later in far east. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 3 or 4 later, occasionally 5 later in east. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5. Slight, but smooth in lyme bay and occasionally moderate in far west. Showers at first. Good occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later, occasionally 7 later in east. Slight or moderate, but smooth at first in lyme bay, becoming rough later in far west. Showers later. Good occasionally moderate later.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5. Slight, but smooth until later in the Bristol Channel and occasionally moderate in far west. Showers at first. Good occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later. Squally showers later. Good, occasionally poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northwesterly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Showers, then fair for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, backing westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far southwest. Mainly fair, squally showers later. Good, occasionally poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far north, otherwise northerly backing westerly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers, squally later. Good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly, backing west or northwest, 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing west or southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Fair, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time in south, occasionally rough later in northwest. Mainly fair, rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, becoming rough in north, occasionally very rough later in north. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5, backing westerly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in the North Channel. Rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly, veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in the North Channel. Slight or moderate, but smooth at first to the north of the isle of arran, becoming moderate or rough later in the North Channel. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, backing west or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in sheltered east, becoming moderate or rough later in west. Mainly fair, then rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 5 to 7. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. Rain or showers, squally later. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6, veering west later, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in central areas, occasionally rough later near entrances. Rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, veering north or northwest, 5 to 7. Slight or moderate in central areas, rough or very rough near entrances. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6, veering west later, occasionally 7 later. Moderate, becoming rough later. Rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, veering north or northwest, 5 to 7. Rough or very rough. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later, then veering west 4 to 6 later. Moderate, but slight at times in sheltered east, occasionally rough later in far west. Showers, then rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.

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

Valid Monday 11 May 2026 at 1200 UTC until Tuesday 12 May 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: A ridge topples across Shetland waters this afternoon with a front pushing east early Tuesday.

Forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in east, backing southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in west Rough at first in north, otherwise moderate, but slight in well-sheltered eastern waters Mainly fair, rain later Good, occasionally moderate later

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Tuesday 12 May until 1200 UTC on Tuesday 12 May: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in east, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in west later Moderate, but slight in well-sheltered eastern waters. increasing rough in west later Rain then showers Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 4, locally 5, veering east to northeast 2 to 3 by midnight becoming variable 1 to 2 for a time then west to northwest 3 to 4 later. Smooth to slight with a low swell. Risk of isolated showers, clearing by midnight. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 by evening, increasing 5 to 6 Wednesday morning. Smooth to slight with a low swell, increasing rather rough to rough later. A risk of mist or fog patches Wednesday morning, mainly near the french coast showers later. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.