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 far north where a shallow area of low pressure will move eastwards across northern Scotland.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 4 or 5 veering east or northeast 2 to 4, backing north 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight in south, mainly slight or moderate in north, but becoming rough later near northern Orkney. Rain or showers, perhaps wintry at times in far north. Good, occasionally poor in north and moderate in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth and moderate or rough in north, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Southeast 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then northeast 4 or 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 to 6 veering east 3 or 4, then veering southeast later. Slight, becoming moderate for a time. Showers. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Slight, occasionally smooth. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming northeast 4 to 6, veering east 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in south. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in south. Occasional rain and fog patches at first, then showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in north. Showers. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in east. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in east. Showers and fog patches at first, becoming fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly, 5 or 6 in east but 3 to 5 in west. Moderate in east, smooth or slight in west. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first, becoming north or northeast 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair then occasional rain or showers. Good, becoming poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less then east or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, then increasing 5 later in west. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in west. Mainly fair then occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less at first in east, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, then becoming cyclonic later. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in west. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, then becoming cyclonic mainly easterly later. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less at first in northern Cardigan Bay, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near St David's Head. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly veering easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, then veering southeasterly later and increasing 6 at times in far north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less at first except in far northwest, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, but becoming variable 2 at times in Morecambe Bay and Solway Firth. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 at first in Morecambe Bay and Solway Firth, otherwise north or northwest 3 to 5 veering east 4 to 6, then southeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest veering east or southeast, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less at first in far south, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in east. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in far north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5 veering east or northeast 4 to 6, then veering southeast later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south. Showers. Good.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly, veering northerly later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 veering easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in North Channel. Showers. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly 3 to 5 veering northwesterly 2 to 4, then northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in far north. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly veering easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in far north. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in north, veering northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later. Mainly smooth or slight, but becoming slight or moderate in north, and later also in west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then south 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate in north, and also at first in west, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in north, veering northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then south 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate in south, moderate or rough in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later 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 Monday 04 May 2026 at 1200 UTC until Tuesday 05 May 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: A shallow area of low pressure will move southeast over or just to the south of Shetland Waters tonight.

Forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in southwest. Moderate, but slight just southeast of Shetland Rain or showers, occasionally wintry Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Tuesday 05 May until 1200 UTC on Tuesday 05 May: Variable 2 to 4, but cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in southwest, becoming northerly or northwesterly 5 or 6. Moderate, but slight just southeast of Shetland, becoming rough in north and west Rain or showers, occasionally wintry Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northerly 2 to 4, locally variable 1 to 3 in the north at first, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 later. Smooth, locally slight. Risk of isolated thundery showers near the Normandy coast at first, then rain spreading northwards overnight, perhaps locally heavy, with mist or fog patches. Good, becoming moderate, locally poor or very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 2 to 4, soon becoming north to northwest, veering northeast to east 4 to 5 overnight. Smooth, occasionally slight, increasing slight to moderate later. Rain and mist or fog in the south, soon clearing, showers developing. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor at first.