Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Most of the United Kingdom will lie in a slack airflow during the next 24 hours, with any strong winds restricted to the far north where a developing area of low pressure will move eastwards across northern Scotland.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming north or northwest 2 to 4, then becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere mainly slight or moderate, but occasionally rough later to the north and west of Orkney. Occasional rain then showers, wintry at times in far north. Good, occasionally poor in north and moderate in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, 3 or less, occasionally 4 except in Moray Firth, becoming southwest 4 or 5. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, rain for a time in north. Good, occasionally moderate later in north.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise west or northwest 3 to 5, veering north or northeast and increasing 6 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Rattray Head. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Showers, becoming fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 to 5, veering east or northeast 2 or 3, then becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, occasionally moderate at first in south. Showers. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in south, becoming moderate later, and occasionally rough later in north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 4 to 6 veering northeast 4 or 5, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly, backing northerly later, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in north. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in east. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate at first in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 2 to 4 veering northeast 4 or 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or 4 at first in east, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate west of Lands End. Mainly fair then occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times in east. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far west. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 near headlands. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near st david's head. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. Mainly smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair then showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming east or northeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 2 to 4, veering north or northeast 3 to 5 later. Slight. Mainly fair. Good.

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

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 at first in south, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in far north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 or 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, then backing southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in south and moderate at first in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4 veering northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near the Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near the Mull of Kintyre. Showers at first. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 or 4 veering north or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate in west, and later also in far south, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 4 or 5 becoming cyclonic 3 or 4, then becoming south or southwest later. Slight or moderate at first in west otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5 veering north 5 or 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate near entrances. Showers, mostly in north. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest south 3 to 5 for a time. Slight or moderate in north, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5 veering north 5 or 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in north. Showers, mostly in north. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest south 3 to 5 for a time. Slight or moderate. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise northwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time in north and west. Occasional rain or showers, wintry at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Tuesday 05 May 2026 at 0000 UTC until Tuesday 05 May 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A shallow area of low pressure will move southeast over or just to the south of Shetland Waters tonight, followed by a cold showery northerly flow.

Forecast: West or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally variable 2 to 4 in south at first. Moderate, but slight just southeast of shetland, becoming rough in northwest soon. Rain or showers, occasionally wintry. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Tuesday 05 May until 0000 UTC on Wednesday 06 May: North or northwest 4 or 5. Moderate or rough, but slight just southeast of shetland. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northerly 2 to 4, locally variable 1 to 2, veering northeast 3 to 4 by mid-morning, locally 5 in the southeast of the area, backing northwest for a time around dusk, then veering north later. Smooth or slight. Rain and showers, perhaps heavy and thundery at first risk of mist or fog patches. Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 to 4, occasionally 2, soon veering northeast to east, locally 5 mid-channel for a time in the morning. Smooth or slight, perhaps briefly moderate mid-channel in the morning. Rain and mist or fog in the south, clearing overnight isolated showers following. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor at first.