Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The United Kingdom will lie in a mainly southeasterly airflow during the next couple of days as areas of low pressure approach from the west, bringing further rain or showers to most areas. Winds will be strong at times especially in the north and west, with a risk of gales developing across some western waters on Thursday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north and east. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in inner Moray Firth and very rough at first in east. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in Moray Firth. Mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in inner Moray Firth and occasionally very rough later in east. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly, 2 to 4 at first in south otherwise 4 to 6. Rough, occasionally moderate in south. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in north. Rough, occasionally moderate in south and very rough later in north. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 or 6. Moderate, occasionally rough in north. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 or 6, increasing 7 at times later. Moderate or rough. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Southeast 2 or 3, increasing 4 or 5. Moderate, occasionally slight in south. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 or 4. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in east. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west. Fair then rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate, occasionally rough later in west. Showers at first. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 or 6, veering south or southwest 3 or 4 for a time, then increasing 7 at times later. Moderate or rough. Fair then rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 mainly in west, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time at first in west. Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west. Occasional rain or showers, mainly in west. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly veering southwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Rough, occasionally moderate in east, becoming very rough or high in west, and rough or very rough later in east. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in far west, veering southerly 4 or 5 later in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough until later in west. Occasional rain or showers, mainly in west. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 at first in north, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east, becoming rough or very rough in west, occasionally high later near Lands End. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in west. Moderate, occasionally slight in northeast and rough in west. Showers, mainly in south. Good, occasionally moderate in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly, backing easterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough later near St Davids Head. Fair then rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

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

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later. Smooth or slight in Liverpool Bay, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor later.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 or 5, increasing 6, backing east or southeast 7 or gale 8 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 7 or gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6. Moderate or rough becoming moderate. Fair, rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming mainly rough later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in northeast, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in North Channel. Mainly smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in North Channel. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in North Channel, decreasing 4 at times later in northeast. Moderate or rough in North Channel, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough in west and later in far south, otherwise slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate in sheltered east, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming very rough later west of Tiree. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight just east and north of skye. Showers in north. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south. Smooth or slight just east and north of skye, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Mainly fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south. Slight or moderate near Sutherland, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers in north. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7. Slight or moderate near Sutherland, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest. Mainly fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 or 7. Very rough at first in south and east, otherwise rough, occasionally moderate in northeast. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Wednesday 28 Jan 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 29 Jan 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Strong southeasterly flow will persist across Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southeast 6 or 7 Rough or very rough Rain or showers Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 29 Jan until 1800 UTC on Thursday 29 Jan: Southeast 6 or 7 Rough Rain or showers Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southeast 4 to 5, increasing 5 to 6 around midday Thursday, perhaps locally 7 mid-channel later. Slight, with a moderate swell, increasing moderate to rather rough by midday. Mist and fog patches mainly near the french coast Thursday morning rain spreading form the west after midday. Good or very good, risk occasionally moderate, locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 6, veering southwest 4 to 5 by midnight, backing south 5 to 6 by midday, then veering southwest 6 to 7 later. Moderate to rather rough with a moderate to heavy swell, increasing rough to very rough in the northwest later. Occasional rain, perhaps heavy, clearing to showers by midnight risk of mist patches near the french coast Friday morning. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor.