Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of low pressure will move southeastwards across the Celtic Sea during tonight and Friday morning. This will bring strong winds to many parts, with gales developing in the southwest later in the day.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northeast backing northwest, 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in north. Sleet or snow showers. Good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first near Aberdeenshire, backing southwest 3 to 5, then south or southeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough at first to the west and north of Orkney, otherwise slight or moderate. Wintry showers then fair. Good, occasionally very poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6 later near Rattray Head. Moderate, becoming slight or moderate later. Sleet or snow showers. Good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 2 or 3, then southerly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Wintry showers then fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 or 5, backing north or northwest 3 or 4 later. Rough at first except in far north, otherwise moderate. Rain then wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, backing southwest 2 to 4 later, then backing south 5 or 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight later. Wintry showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 4 or 5, backing northerly 3 or 4 later in far north. Rough at first in north, otherwise moderate. Rain, then wintry showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast backing northwest, 3 to 5, backing southwest 2 or 3 later, then backing south 4 to 6 later. Moderate, becoming slight in south. Wintry showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 to 6 backing northwesterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 or 3 later, then becoming southerly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in south. Showers, wintry at times. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then northeasterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in east. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later, then occasionally rough later in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 5 to 7 backing northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later, then becoming southerly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then northeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 to 6 backing north 2 to 4, then south or southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Showers then fair, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later to the west of Land's End. Rough or very rough in west, but in east, moderate or rough, becoming slight later in Lyme Bay. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 5 to 7 becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southwest 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later. Rough or very rough at first in west, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming rough again later in west. Showers then fair, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in west. Rough or very rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Showers, then rain for a time later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 5 to 7 becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west and smooth in east. Showers then fair, then rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, backing northerly 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then south 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers then fair, then rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly at first in south, otherwise northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, backing northerly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west, becoming smooth or slight later. Rain, then showers later, perhaps wintry. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then south 6 to gale 8 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later in northwest. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 5 to 7, backing north 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate, then slight later. Occasional rain then fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 or 4 backing southwest 2 or 3, then south 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, backing northwesterly 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain then showers, perhaps becoming wintry. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 or 4 backing southwest 2 to 4, then south 6 to gale 8 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later except in far north. Wintry showers then fair, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northerly or northwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate until later except in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain then mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly 6 to gale 8 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers at first in North Channel, otherwise fair, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, backing northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east. Showers, occasionally wintry, but becoming fair for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth until later in east and rough later in west. Showers then fair, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in south. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight to the east and south of Skye. Sleet or snow showers. Good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in south. Smooth or slight at first to the east and south of Skye, otherwise slight or moderate. Wintry showers then fair, then rain or sleet later. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in south, and also later near Sutherland. Mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate between Barra and Canna. Sleet or snow showers. Good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in south. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north and later in west. Wintry showers then fair, then rain or sleet later. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest veering north 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Moderate or rough. Sleet or snow showers. Good, occasionally very poor.

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

Valid Friday 13 Feb 2026 at 0000 UTC until Friday 13 Feb 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A cold northerly airstream over Shetland waters will weaken overnight into Sunday.

Forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north Moderate or rough Wintry showers Good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 13 Feb until 0000 UTC on Saturday 14 Feb: Northerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north Rough, but moderate in well sheltered southern and eastern waters Wintry showers Good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to southwest 4 to 5, soon decreasing 3 to 4, becoming cyclonic 2 to 3 by midday and north to northeast 3 to 5 towards dusk, increasing 5 to 7 later. Rather rough to rough, soon decreasing slight with a low to moderate swell, increasing moderate to rather rough later. Showers, perhaps locally heavy, risk of hail later, risk of mist patches near the French coast for a time at first. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North to northeast 6 to 7, decreasing 5 to 6 by dawn, further decreasing 3 to 4 by midday, becoming variable 1 to 3 in the afternoon and south 4 to 6 in the evening. Moderate to rather rough, occasionally rough in the north and west at first, decreasing slight with a low swell in the afternoon, occasionally moderate mid-channel later. Showers, perhaps heavy with hail, clearing by dawn. Good, occasionally moderate or poor at first.