Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
00:00 (UTC) on Wed 13 May 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 14 May 2026
General situation
An area of low pressure moving southeast across the North Sea, will bring an unseasonably cool and showery northwesterly flow. The wind strong and blustery at times, especially in the west, but also in the northeast later on Thursday as the flow changing more northerly.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, but moderate or rough in far northwest. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later in east. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough, but moderate or rough in far northwest throughout. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: Southwest, veering north or northwest, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4, veering north 4 to 6, then backing northwest later, occasionally 7 later near Rattray Head. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, becoming rough later near Rattray Head. Showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: Southwest, veering north or northwest, 3 to 5. Slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight, becoming moderate later. Showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: Southwest veering northwest 3 to 5. Slight. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first. Slight, becoming moderate later in north. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south, veering northwesterly later. Slight, occasionally moderate in east. Fair at first, then thundery showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northerly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4, backing westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, then veering northwesterly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Fair at first, then thundery showers. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northerly 3 to 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Showers, thundery for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4, increasing 5 to 7. Slight or moderate. Fair at first, then thundery showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 or 6, veering north or northwest 4 or 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Showers, thundery for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West 4 or 5, veering northwest 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far west. Fair at first, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 or 6, veering north 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far west. Showers, thundery for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West veering northwest 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate near Severn estuary. Fair at first, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 7, veering north 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Showers, thundery for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West veering northwest 5 to 7. Moderate, occasionally rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 7, veering north 4 to 6 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in west, occasionally slight later. Showers, thundery for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West veering northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south, occasionally slight in north. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers, thundery for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Isle of Man - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West veering northwest 5 to 7. Moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West 4 to 6, veering northwest 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, but rough in far north. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough near Mull of Kintyre. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in North Channel. Slight or moderate, but rough at first near Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southwest. Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West veering north 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West veering north 4 to 6. Rough or very rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Shetland Isles
24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming north 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, but slight to the east of Shetland. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland - Strong wind warning
Valid Wednesday 13 May 2026 at 0000 UTC until Wednesday 13 May 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation: A broad area of low pressure over Shetland Waters moves away southeast through Wednesday, introducing a freshening northerly flow.
Forecast: West or southwest 2 or 3 becoming variable 3 or less Rough, but slight or moderate in eastern waters Showers Mainly good
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Wednesday 13 May until 0000 UTC on Thursday 14 May: Variable 3 or less soon becoming northerly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in north and west Moderate or rough, but slight in eastern waters Showers Mainly good
Channel Islands - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West to northwest 4 to 5 increasing 5 to 6 by early hours, perhaps locally 7 later. Slight to moderate increasing, then rather rough to rough by mid-morning. Scattered showers from dawn, perhaps locally heavy. Very good becoming good, locally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 6, perhaps locally 7 at first, decreasing 4 to 5 later then veering north to northeast. Rather rough to rough, decreasing moderate to rather rough later. Isolated showers, becoming widespread for a time until mid-morning, perhaps locally heavy. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor at times.