Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure over the Irish Sea will decline as an easterly flow becomes established across the United Kingdom. Light or moderate winds for most areas on Monday will then strengthen, becoming fresh to strong especially in the south on Tuesday. Some showers are expected, mainly for eastern waters, but otherwise mainly fair conditions will dominate.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, veering east 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth and rough at first near Orkney. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 4 or 5, backing northeast 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly backing northeasterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming east 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5. Slight becoming moderate. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or northeast 2 to 4. Slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight becoming moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming northeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Slight becoming mainly moderate. Showers at first. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly for a time near shore in west, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth at first and moderate later in west. Showers in east. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers at first in east. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast, veering southeast for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast 2 to 4, veering east 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in lyme bay. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far west. Fair. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time except in far south. Slight, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel and moderate in southwest. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east, becoming rough at times near Lands End. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northeast becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming east 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate at times in west and later in far north. Fair. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming east 4 or 5 later. Smooth, occasionally slight later. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable mainly north, 2 to 4, becoming east 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Showers at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, then easterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in North Channel. Showers at first. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly, becoming variable for a time in east, 2 to 4, veering easterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth east of islay and jura. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in southwest. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Mainly fair. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: North or northeast, veering east later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near skye. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Mainly fair. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly, veering easterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Moderate, occasionally slight between barra and canna. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north. Moderate occasionally slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: North veering east or southeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough at first in far west. Occasional rain or showers, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

Valid Monday 20 Apr 2026 at 0000 UTC until Monday 20 Apr 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Low pressure over Shetland Waters moves to the east with high pressure building from the north later Monday.

Forecast: North 3 to 5 veering east. Moderate, but slight east of shetland and rough in west at first Rain or showers Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Monday 20 Apr until 0000 UTC on Tuesday 21 Apr: East or northeast 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 or less. Moderate, but slight east of shetland Showers at first otherwise fair Good, occasionally moderate at first

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 4 to 5, perhaps 6 later. Smooth or slight with a low swell at first, increasing slight to moderate. Fair or fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 5 to 6, perhaps 7, mid-channel, later. Slight to moderate, increasing rather rough to rough mid-channel later. Fair. Good or very good.