Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A westerly or southwesterly airflow will persist bringing further showers or longer spells of rain, and some strong winds at times. A deepening low will move northeast across south and east England later on Thursday bringing the risk of gales to some southeastern waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering southwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time at first in east. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate occasionally rough. Rain at first, then showers in north. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, smooth or slight in Moray Firth, slight or moderate elsewhere. Showers in northwest. Good, occasionally moderate in northwest.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in north, occasionally smooth later in Firth of Forth. Occasional rain, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, decreasing 2 or 3 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Showers later. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Slight occasionally moderate. Occasional rain, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, veering northwest for a time at first, 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South veering southwest, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in south and moderate at first in north. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming south or southwest 4 or 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain at first, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 or 4, veering southwesterly 4 to 6, then backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in south. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in south and east, occasionally rough later in southeast. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly, then backing southerly later, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough at first in south and east, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain at first, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly, veering southwesterly for a time first, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Smooth or slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later, then decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight at first and rough later. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic mainly west, becoming southwest, then backing south later, 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally slight near shore. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 for a time later in far east. Moderate, occasionally rough in west and slight at first in east, becoming very rough later near Isles of Scilly. Rain at times, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic mainly westerly, 3 to 5, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west and slight at first in east. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far east, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west, occasionally very rough near Lands End. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South 5 to 7 veering southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth east of Anglesey and rough later near St Davids Head. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first near Mull of Galloway, veering southwest 4 to 6, backing south 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain then mainly fair. Moderate or poor, becoming mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 6 to gale 8 veering southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except in far north. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in east. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde and northwest of arran, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight east of islay and jura and very rough in northwest. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Mainly very rough until later west of Tiree, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally slight to the east of islay and jura. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except in far southwest. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, backing southeast later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight north and east of skye. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Rough or very rough west of the Outer Hebrides, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, backing southeast later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Rough or very rough until later west of the Outer Hebrides, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Wednesday 14 Jan 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 15 Jan 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: A complex low to the south of Iceland will push troughs east or northeast over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in east. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 15 Jan until 1800 UTC on Thursday 15 Jan: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, veering southwesterly 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far west. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southeast 3 to 4, veering southwest 4 to 6 by midnight, backing south to southeast 6 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 then veering west to northwest 3 to 4. Smooth to slight with a low swell, increasing slight to moderate by midnight, occasionally rather rough mid-channel, decreasing smooth to slight later. Isolated showers rain in the west by midnight, spreading east and becoming heavy later. Good, occasionally moderate to poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 3 to 4, backing south to southwest 4 to 6 by midnight. Smooth to slight, increasing slight to moderate by dawn, locally smooth to the south with a low swell. Rain, locally heavy, clearing to scattered showers overnight. Moderate to good, locally poor at times.