Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Northwesterly winds will be strong across most waters of the United Kingdom on new year's day, with gales affecting northern and eastern areas. Showers will turn increasingly wintry with heavy, squally snow showers mainly affecting northern Scotland.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first near Orkney, veering north 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough in shelter, otherwise very rough or high. Squally snow showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 6 to gale 8. Moderate in shelter, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high in north. Squally snow showers. Moderate occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first near Rattray Head. Slight at first in far south, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough. Squally snow showers. Good occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 6 to gale 8, veering north 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough. Squally snow showers. Good occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first. Squally wintry showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 6 to gale 8, veering north 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough. Squally snow showers. Good occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough. Showers, becoming wintry later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 6 to gale 8, veering north 5 or 6 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate near Gibraltar Point. Squally snow showers. Good occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly, veering northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north. Slight or moderate, becoming rough in north. Showers for a time. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 4 later in the Thames estuary. Slight or moderate, but rough in north. Wintry showers. Good occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly, veering northwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time near North Foreland. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in west. Fair then showers, wintry later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth. Wintry showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West, veering northwest, 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in east. Showers for a time. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near headlands. Wintry showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in far west. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in east. In far west, moderate occasionally rough later, otherwise slight, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Wintry showers. Good occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6. Slight becoming moderate. Showers, wintry later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest, veering north, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in the Bristol Channel. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Wintry showers. Good occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 to 7. Moderate occasionally rough. Showers, wintry later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest, veering north, 5 to 7. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Good occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near the Solway Firth. Showers, wintry later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest, veering north, 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near the Solway Firth. Wintry showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 to 7. Moderate occasionally rough. Showers, wintry later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 5 to 7. Moderate occasionally rough. Wintry showers. Good occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north. Smooth or slight in far south, otherwise moderate or rough. Squally showers, becoming wintry. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north. Smooth or slight in far south, otherwise moderate or rough. Squally snow showers. Good occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in the North Channel. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in the Firth of Clyde. Squally showers, becoming wintry. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in the North Channel. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in the Firth of Clyde. Squally snow showers. Good occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest, veering north, 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west. Squally snow showers. Good occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest, veering north, 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, but in far north very rough or high. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, but in far north very rough occasionally high at first. Squally snow showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest, veering north, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first near Cape Wrath. Very rough or high, but rough near barra and canna. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 6 to gale 8. Very rough, occasionally high at first, but rough near barra and canna. Squally snow showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, veering north 6 to gale 8 later. Very rough or high, but in sheltered east moderate or rough. Squally snow showers. Moderate occasionally poor.

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

Valid Thursday 01 Jan 2026 at 0600 UTC until Thursday 01 Jan 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: A strong northerly airflow becomes established with frequent snow and hail showers over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: North or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 at first. Very rough or high, but occasionally rough east of shetland. Snow and hail showers showers. Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Thursday 01 Jan until 0600 UTC on Friday 02 Jan: North 7 to severe gale 9. Very rough or high, occasionally rough east of shetland. Snow and hail showers. Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West to southwest 3 to 4 in the south of the area, otherwise northwest 4 to 5. Slight, locally smooth in the south. Scattered showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North to northwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6 in the north of the area from late morning. Slight, occasionally moderate mid-channel. Scattered showers, perhaps heavy with hail at times. Good, occasionally moderate or perhaps poor.