Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure towards the southeast of the United Kingdom will bring mostly settled conditions and light winds at first here, however a strong to gale south or southwest flow with rain or showers will develop elsewhere. Strong winds with gales at times and rain or showers will then extend southwards to all areas on Tuesday and it will turn colder, with wintry showers in the north.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, then veering southwesterly, occasionally severe gale 9 later in north. To the west and north of Orkney, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high later, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later except in Moray Firth. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time in south, veering northwesterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in north and east. To the west and north of Orkney, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, but elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate for a time, but slight in Moray Firth. Squally showers, becoming wintry. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair then occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later except in Firth of Forth. Occasional rain then showers, perhaps wintry later. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or 3, becoming southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in north. Fair then occasional rain. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate. Rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly 3 to 5, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate later. Mainly fair. Good, but moderate or poor at first in south, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 or 7, then veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in east. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6 later. Smooth becoming slight or moderate later. Mainly fair. Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering westerly later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Mainly fair then occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: South 2 or 3, veering southwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5 later. Smooth becoming slight or moderate later. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Mainly fair then occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or 3, becoming southwest 3 or 4, increasing southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in east. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, then veering west or northwest. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough in west. Mainly fair then rain and showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate. Mainly fair, occasional rain or drizzle later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering northwest 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough in west. Mainly fair then rain and showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South 3 or 4, veering southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Mainly fair, occasional rain or drizzle later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 or 7, veering west or northwest 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south. Rain, then squally showers, perhaps wintry later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 3 to 5, veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 except in southeast. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain then showers, perhaps wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6. Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later. Fair, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 or 6, veering west or northwest 7 or gale 8, decreasing 6 or 7 later. Moderate or rough. Rain clearing to showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later in north. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north, becoming very rough or high later in north. Rain then squally showers, becoming wintry. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, but smooth to the north of isle of arran. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering westerly 4 to 6, then northwesterly 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, becoming rough in North Channel. Rain then squally showers, becoming wintry. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough but moderate in sheltered east, becoming very rough or high later in west. Occasional rain, then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough, but moderate in sheltered east and occasionally high in west. Showers, becoming wintry. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north. Slight or moderate in central areas, rough or very rough elsewhere, becoming very rough or high later near Cape Wrath. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate in central areas, rough or very rough elsewhere and very rough or high at first near Cape Wrath and later near entrances. Squally showers, becoming wintry. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9. Rough or very rough, becoming high later. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. High becoming rough or very rough for a time. Squally showers, becoming wintry. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough, but moderate at first in sheltered east, becoming very rough or high later except in sheltered east. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Monday 23 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC until Tuesday 24 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Ridge of high pressure will decline as a deep of area of low pressure tracks northeast south of Iceland. Gale force southwesterly will become established.

Forecast: South or southwest 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8 Rough or very rough, but moderate east of shetland at first Rain then showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Tuesday 24 Mar until 1200 UTC on Tuesday 24 Mar: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9 Very rough or high, occasionally very high in the west later Showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming south to southwest 3 to 4 by midnight, increasing 4 to 5 later. Smooth, locally slight, with a low swell. Risk of mist or fog patches. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 5, locally 3 in the southeast, increasing 6 to 7 in the evening, veering west to northwest around midnight, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight to moderate, increasing rather rough to rough by evening, locally moderate in the southeast, then rough to very rough overnight. Rain spreading eastwards from dusk, clearing to squally showers overnight, perhaps heavy with hail later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.