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 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 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 south or southwest 4 or 5, then cyclonic 2 or 3 later. 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: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly or northeasterly and increasing 6 for a time, becoming variable 3 or less later in north. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 a veering south or southeast 3 or 4, then veering southwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Mainly fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 or 4, veering 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 south or southeast 2 or 3. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers at first. Moderate or good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly, backing northerly later, 3 to 5 but variable 3 or 4 at first in north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south. 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, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary. 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.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, decreasing 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate at first in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 or 4 becoming variable 2 to 4, then backing east later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly, backing northwesterly for a time, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate west at first of Lands End. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4. 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 at first in far west. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 near headlands, becoming variable 3 or 4 later in north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near st david's head. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, but northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4 at first in south. Mainly smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Northwest, veering east or northeast later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, veering southeast 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Northwest, veering east or northwest, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight, occasionally moderate later. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East ot northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming southeast 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, veering easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, then veering southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. 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: Northwesterly 3 or 4 veering northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, then veering easterly later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near the Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 4 or 5, veering southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 or 4, becoming south 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 5 or 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate near entrances. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest 3 to 5, then becoming cyclonic 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate in north, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers, then rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 5 or 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest 3 to 5, then becoming cyclonic 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, then rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing west later, 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 0600 UTC until Tuesday 05 May 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: A cold and showery northwesterly flow, backs westerly today as a ridge of high pressure builds over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: West or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in northwest at first. Moderate or rough, but slight just southeast of shetland. Showers, occasionally wintry Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Tuesday 05 May until 0600 UTC on Wednesday 06 May: West or northwest 3 to 5 Moderate, occasionally rough in northwest at first, but slight just southeast of shetland. Showers, occasionally wintry Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northeast 2 to 4, locally 5 in the south of the area at times, backing northwest late afternoon, then veering northeast again overnight. Slight, occasionally smooth. Rain and showers, perhaps heavy and thundery at first risk of mist patches at times. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 3 to 4, decreasing 2 to 3 by mid-afternoon, veering southeast overnight, perhaps locally 4. Smooth occasionally slight. Isolated showers, perhaps heavy and thundery near brittany coast towards dawn Thursday. Good or very good, locally moderate at times, perhaps locally poor later.