Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A weak ridge moves east across the United Kingdom at first. Then a strong to occasionally gale force southerly or southwesterly flow will establish itself through Wednesday bringing further spells of rain and showers.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8, then veering southwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in Moray Firth. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest backing southeast later, 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, but smooth or slight in inner Moray Firth and very rough later in northwest. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8, then veering southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth at first in Firth of Forth, occasionally rough later in north. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, backing south 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 to 7, veering southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 3 or 4, backing south 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate later. Fog patches at first near shore in south, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain, becoming fair for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate later. Fog patches at first near shore, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later, veering west 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate at first in east, becoming rough or very rough later in west. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 or 4, backing south 7 to severe gale 9 later, then veering west 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, but occasionally very rough in southwest. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far south. Rain or drizzle, becoming fair for a time. Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good for a time.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later, then decreasing 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time in west. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest backing southeast later, 4 to 6, then veering southwest 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time. Moderate becoming rough or very rough for a time. Rain, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south or southeast, 5 or 6, veering southwest 7 later. Moderate, becoming rough later. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, but smooth or slight at first in far south. Rain or drizzle, then showers. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in far north. Squally showers, 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: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in North Channel. Rain or drizzle, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in North Channel. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough, but moderate in sheltered east. Showers, then rain or drizzle for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. Squally showers, rain later. Good occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in central area, becoming very rough later near southern entrance later. Showers, then rain or drizzle for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, but very rough or high near entrances. Squally showers, rain later. Good occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high later. Showers, then rain or drizzle for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Very rough or high. Squally showers, rain later. Good occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time. Rough or very rough, but moderate at first in sheltered east. Showers, perhaps thundery, rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Wednesday 17 Dec 2025 at 0000 UTC until Wednesday 17 Dec 2025 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Large low pressure system moves towards Iceland on Wednesday morning with a trough moving east over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south and increasing 7 or gale 8 later. Rough or very rough, but moderate to east of shetland. Showers, then rain later. Good occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Wednesday 17 Dec until 0000 UTC on Thursday 18 Dec: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Rough or very rough. Rain, then showers. Good occasionally moderate

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North to northwest 2 to 3, backing southwest to south 3 to 4 by dawn, increasing 5 to 6 by noon, locally 7 in the north and west of the area later. Slight, increasing rather rough to rough Wednesday afternoon, with a low to moderate swell throughout. Rain spreading from the west from Wednesday afternoon. Very good or good, locally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 6 to 7, increasing 7 to 8 for a time Thursday afternoon, veering west to northwest 4 to 5 by midnight. Moderate with a low to moderate swell in the southeast rather rough to rough in the northwest, very rough for a time Thursday evening. Occasional rain, locally heavy, clearing to isolated showers later. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor.