Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure over the North Sea will start to decline and move away eastwards as low pressure approaches from the southwest. Largely fair conditions will persist across much of the United Kingdom through Thursday, but outbreaks of rain and showers, perhaps thundery, will spread northeastwards across most waters for a time during Friday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming mainly northerly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in northwest. Slight or moderate north and west of Orkney, but smooth or slight elsewhere. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later in Firth of Forth and st andrews bay. Slight becoming slight or moderate for a time. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 3 to 5 for a time. Slight, occasionally smooth in south. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Slight or moderate, becoming mainly slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast veering southwest, 2 to 4. Slight, becoming smooth or slight. Fair, then occasional rain, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 2 or 3. Slight, becoming smooth or slight. Fair then occasional rain, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Rain or thundery showers later. Good, occasionally poor later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly veering easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or thundery showers for a time. Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming southwest for a time, 2 to 4, then southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain, thundery later. Good, occasionally poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight except in far west. Shower, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 or 4 for a time. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near Isles of Scilly. Fog patches at first, showers, perhaps thundery later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Occasional rain, mainly in west, fog patches later in west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, often south, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then mainly southwest later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair, then rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in northwest. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in west. Fair, showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair, then occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4, veering south or southwest later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Fair, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 or 4, veering south or southwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4. Slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east and southeast. Occasional rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in far north, elsewhere smooth or slight. Occasional showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later in northeast. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in the North Channel. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly southerly for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west, smooth at times in sheltered east. Fair, then rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less for a time. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Rain or showers later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then mainly northeasterly later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. Mainly moderate. Rain or showers later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in north. Mainly moderate. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 or 3 in west. Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

Valid Thursday 30 Apr 2026 at 1200 UTC until Friday 01 May 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: High pressure centred in the southern North Sea continues to extend a ridge over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6 Moderate or rough Fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Friday 01 May until 1200 UTC on Friday 01 May: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 in west Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south Occasional rain later Good, occasionally moderate later

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East to southeast 3 to 4, decreasing 2 to 3 towards dusk, veering west overnight, locally 4 in the north by morning. Slight, locally smooth. Isolated showers in the west of the area at first, perhaps thundery drizzle, mist and fog spreading east soon after dusk, clearing by midday. Moderate to good, becoming moderate to poor locally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or variable 2 to 4, becoming variable 1 to 3 by evening and east 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mist and fog patches soon clearing, returning for a time on Saturday morning. Moderate to very poor, becoming good.