Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
12:00 (UTC) on Sun 17 May 2026 to 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 18 May 2026
General situation
A filling low centred to the northwest of Scotland will give a cool and showery westerly flow across the British Isles. Later on Monday, a new Atlantic frontal system will arrive in the southwest, with its associated strong winds and rain expected to spread northeastwards on Tuesday.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney
24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east or southeast later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Rain at first in north, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Smooth at first in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 2 to 4, then backing east or southeast later. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 3 or 4, veering southeast 4 or 5, then increasing 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first in south, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: Variable becoming south 2 to 4, then backing southeast 3 or 4 later. Slight. Showers, fair later. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first, and occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming south or southeast later, 2 to 4. Slight. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 or 4, backing southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Thundery showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming southerly or southwesterly later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 or 4, backing southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Thundery showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 or 5, veering westerly 3 or 4, then backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 or 5, backing southerly 3 or 4, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first, then rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south or southeast 5 or 6, then veering southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, but rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West backing southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south or southeast 5 or 6, then veering southwest later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far west. Rain at times, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far west. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south or southeast 5 or 6, then veering southwest later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far west. Showers, buit rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 or 6, then veering southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, but rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway
24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate at first, becoming mainly smooth later. Thundery showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in north, then veering southerly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair at first, then rain at times, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Slight, occasionally moderate in south. Showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 2 to 4, backing southeast 5 to 7, then veering south 4 or 5 later. Slight, becoming mainly moderate later. Fair at first, then rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far north. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 to 7, then veering south 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Showers, but rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in North Channel, then veering southerly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Showers, but rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point
24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 1 to 3, occasionally 4 later. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Showers at first. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 to 7, then veering south 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Tiree. Fair at first, then rain at times. Good, occasionally poor later.
The Minch
24 hour forecast: Southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 1 to 3. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight near skye. Showers, fair later. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 1 to 3, becoming southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight near skye. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath
24 hour forecast: Southwest becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Showers, fair later. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far southwest. Moderate, occasionally rough later. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Shetland Isles
24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally slight east of Shetland. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Sunday 17 May 2026 at 1200 UTC until Monday 18 May 2026 at 0000 UTC
General situation: A complex and shallow area of low pressure will cover Shetland Waters on Sunday.
Forecast: Southeast 3 to 5 Moderate, becoming rough in west. occasionally slight just east of shetland. Showers Good occasionally moderate
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Monday 18 May until 1200 UTC on Monday 18 May: Southeast 3 to 5 Moderate, occasionally rough at first in west. slight just east of shetland. Mainly fair Good
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: West to northwest 3 to 4, locally 5 mid-channel, backing southwest later. Slight to moderate, with low swell developing. Occasional showers, perhaps locally heavy later. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 4, occasionally 5 mid-channel, backing south during the afternoon, increasing 5 to 6 in the evening, veering southwest 4 to 5 overnight. Slight to moderate with a low swell. Showers at first rain from evening, locally heavy, clearing later. Good, becoming moderate to poor for a time.