Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure centred to the east, will give a light to moderate southerly flow at first. Atlantic frontal systems will encroach eastwards on Thursday and introduce a stronger northwesterly flow for a time, with rain across western areas, a new transient ridge of high pressure builds from the Atlantic on Friday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 to 5, then backing west 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough to north and west of Orkney, slight or moderate elsewhere. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, then south 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough to north and west of Orkney, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in Moray Firth. Rain at first, then fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then northerly 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 1 to 3, then southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at times, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Fair, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming north 4 to 6, then variable 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South becoming variable 2 to 4, then northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 2 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair at first, then occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 2 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Southeast becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth near shore. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 1 to 3, becoming north 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming northwesterly 5 to 7 later west of falmouth. Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later in west. Rain later in west. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in lyme bay, otherwise northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, veering northerly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far west. Occasional rain or drizzle, fair later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then northerly 6 or 7 later in west. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in west. Fair at first, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 to 7, but 3 or 4 in east, decreasing 2 or 3 later in west. Moderate or rough at first in west, slight or moderate in east. Occasional rain, fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in west. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 5 to 7, backing northwesterly 3 to 5, then westerly 2 or 3 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain, fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time later in west. Slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 3 or 4, backing southwesterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Occasional rain, fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4, then veering northwest 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5, then southwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight. Rain at first, then fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6, veering northwest 5 to 7, then decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 to 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north, and smooth later in south. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering northwesterly 5 or 6 later, then decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time near Mull of Galloway. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast veering north or northwest, 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in sheltered east. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in shelter east, occasionally very rough later in far west. Mainly fair. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South veering northwest 5 to 7, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south. Rain at times, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5, backing south 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later south of skye. Mainly fair. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South veering northwest 5 to 7, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Rough, occasionally very rough, moderate at times near Sutherland. Rain at times, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5, backing south 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Rough, occasionally moderate near Sutherland, becoming rough or very rough later in west. Mainly fair. Good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 4 or 5, then backing southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far northwest. Occasional rain, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

Valid Thursday 05 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC until Thursday 05 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Troughs crossing from the west on Thursday, veering the flow to the west.

Forecast: South 5 to 7 Rough, occasionally very rough in northwest, but moderate in lee shelter of shetland Occasional rain Good, occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Thursday 05 Mar until 0000 UTC on Friday 06 Mar: South 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 4 or 5, then backing southwest 3 to 5 later Rough, occasionally very rough in northwest at first, but moderate in lee shelter of shetland Occasional rain, becoming fair later Good, occasionally moderate

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 4, veering southerly later. Smooth or slight with a low swell. A risk of mist patches near the french coast around dawn isolated showers later. Good, perhaps locally moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to southwest 3 to 4, veering northwest to north 4 to 5 by midday Friday. Smooth or slight with a low swell, occasionally moderate in the west. Patchy rain with mist or fog patches. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor or very poor at times.