Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Strong winds in the far north at first will ease with light or moderate winds across much of the United Kingdom. However northeasterly winds will then gradually strengthen during the weekend across many central and southern coastlines, especially on Sunday in the south.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in Moray Firth. Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, smooth or slight in Moray Firth, slight or moderate elsewhere. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in Moray Firth, otherwise westerly or northwesterly, veering northerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate or rough at first to the north and west of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 4 or 5. Slight, occasionally moderate later in far north and far south. Occasional rain or showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast backing northwest, then west or southwest later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north and far south. Fair then showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6. Slight, becoming moderate later. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast backing north or northwest, then southwest later, 3 to 5. Moderate becoming slight. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then northeast 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in north. Occasional rain in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later in south. Smooth or slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later near North Foreland. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in southeast. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later in east. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 5 to 7. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in west and 3 at first elsewhere. Slight, occasionally smooth at first, becoming moderate at times in west. Fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 or 6, occasionally 3 at first, then increasing 7 at times. Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times in far west. Occasional rain or showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5, backing north 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in west, occasionally rough later near St Davids Head. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Lands End and St Davids Head. Smooth or slight until later in east, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far west. Occasional rain or showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near St Davids Head. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near St Davids Head. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Cardigan Bay and rough at first near St Davids Head. Showers at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest veering north or northeast, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing northwest later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in south. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly, backing northwesterly later, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Mainly fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 4 to 6. Slight occasionally moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing northwest later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly 4 to 6, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later east of arran and near Mull of Galloway. Slight, occasionally moderate in North Channel and smooth elsewhere. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming northwesterly later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in the North Channel. Mainly fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly veering northerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northwest. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, backing westerly later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east. Showers later. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near northern entrance, becoming smooth or slight except in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest, backing west for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first. Moderate in northeast, otherwise smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later. Slight or moderate between barra and canna, moderate or rough elsewhere. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest, backing west for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first. Moderate, occasionally slight in south and rough later in northwest. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in sheltered east, otherwise rough, occasionally very rough in northwest. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

Valid Friday 08 May 2026 at 1800 UTC until Saturday 09 May 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Atlantic low near the Faeroes will drift northeast with a showery airstream feeding into Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southwest veering west or northwest, 5 to 7 Rough, becoming very rough in north, but moderate southeast of shetland Showers Good, occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Saturday 09 May until 1800 UTC on Saturday 09 May: West or northwest 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5 Rough, very rough in north at first, but moderate southeast of shetland, and slight in lee shelter just east of shetland Showers Good, occasionally moderate

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 4 to 5, occasionally 3. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, in the south of the area after midnight, spreading north. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 to 5, increasing 6 to 7 after midnight. Smooth or slight, increasing slight to moderate in the evening, further increasing rather rough to rough in the north and west later. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.