Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The south to southwesterly airflow currently affecting the United Kingdom will bring strong winds to the coastal waters with a risk of gales in the north and west. There will be further rain or showers, especially in the west. High pressure will then build across the British Isles overnight and into Tuesday bringing more settled and quieter conditions with lighter winds.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly veering southwesterly, then westerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then decreasing 3 at times in south. Moderate, occasionally slight in Moray Firth and rough elsewhere. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly later, 4 or 5, occasionally 3 in south and 6 at first in north. To the north and west of Orkney, moderate or rough occasionally very rough, but elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Showers at first. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, veering southwesterly 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally slight in south and rough until later in north. Rain at times, fair later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4, veering north, then southeast later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain, fair later. Moderate or good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then northeasterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, becoming variable, mainly southwesterly, 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first, becoming northeasterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair then occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwesterly 2 to 4 later. Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain or drizzle at times, but mainly fair in east. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly veering northeasterly, then becoming variable for a time later, 2 to 4. Moderate, occasionally rough in far west and slight elsewhere. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, becoming variable, then westerly or northwesterly later, 2 to 4. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough at first in west. Rain or drizzle at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Moderate or rough until later in west, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: South 6 to gale 8 becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west, becoming slight or moderate in north and later in south. Occasional rain or drizzle, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest veering north, 3 to 5, then veering east 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in north. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, veering westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6 later. Rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Occasional rain or drizzle, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering northerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, veering easterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Showers. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 6 to gale 8 veering west or southwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Rough or very rough becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 2 to 4, veering north 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Mainly fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8 decreasing 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later, then veering northwest 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southeast, becoming slight or moderate. Rain at first, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Showers at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later, then becoming cyclonic later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northerly 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate until later in North Channel, otherwise smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6, then veering northerly or northwesterly later, occasionally 7 later in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough in far northwest. Rain at first, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough at first in far northwest. Showers at first. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8 decreasing 5 or 6, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in south and west. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6 backing southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near northern entrance and smooth in central areas. Showers. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8 decreasing 5 or 6, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough to the west of the Outer Hebrides. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6 backing southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate or rough between barra and canna, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers. Good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough at times in north and west. Rain at first, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Monday 02 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC until Monday 02 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A deep low will move north or northeast between the Faeroes and Iceland on Monday.

Forecast: Southeasterly veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later in southeast. Rough, occasionally very rough later in west. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Monday 02 Mar until 0000 UTC on Tuesday 03 Mar: Southwesterly 5 to 7 occasionally gale 8 in northwest. Rough or very rough. Showers. Mainly good.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 5 to 6, perhaps locally 7 mid-channel at first, decreasing 3 to 4 by midday, locally variable 2 later. Slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell, perhaps locally rather rough mid-channel at first. Mist and a risk of fog and patchy drizzle developing towards midnight. Good or very good, locally poor or perhaps very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest or variable 2 to 3, becoming northeast or variable by morning, locally 4 later. Smooth or slight, with a low to moderate swell. Mist, with a risk of fog and patchy drizzle. Good, locally poor, perhaps very poor.