Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A large complex area of low pressure in the Atlantic will maintain the mainly southerly flow. Frontal systems will give periods of rain or drizzle, and there will be fog patches in south and southeast at first.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time near Cape Wrath, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, slight or moderate elsewhere, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, slight or moderate elsewhere, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor for a time in north.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Rain or drizzle at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later near Rattray Head. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Rain or drizzle at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South or southwest, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate later in northeast. Rain at first, then drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South veering southwest, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate in northeast. Rain or drizzle at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 for a time. Slight, occasionally smooth. Occasional rain or drizzle, and fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Rain or drizzle, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth. Drizzle, fog patches until later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth until later, moderate at times later in south. Drizzle at times. Moderate or good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally moderate in far west. Drizzle at times, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 2 at first and 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth at first in east, becoming slight or moderate. Drizzle at times. Moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Southwest backing south or southeast, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Drizzle at times, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South veering southwest, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight or moderate. Drizzle at times. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west, becoming southeasterly 2 or 3 for a time in east. Slight or moderate in east, but moderate or rough west of Lizard Point. Drizzle at times, fog patches at first, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in lyme bay. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly, backing southeasterly in east, 4 to 6, but 3 or 4 in Bristol Channel. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in inner Bristol Channel. Drizzle at times, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in inner Bristol Channel. Occasional rain or drizzle until later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near st david's head. Drizzle at times, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near st david's head. Rain or drizzle until later. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in east. Slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle. Moderate or good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 5 or 6. Moderate. Light rain and drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 or 6. Moderate. Occasional rain and drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast. Slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle, then showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southern North Channel. Slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east, and very rough for a time in northwest. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 for a time,. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east. Rain or drizzle, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough south of skye. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in south, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south entrance, and smooth at times east of skye. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Rough, occasionally very rough for a time in south and west, and moderate at times near Sutherland. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in south, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Mainly rough, occasionally moderate near Sutherland. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in east. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north and west. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Tuesday 24 Feb 2026 at 0600 UTC until Tuesday 24 Feb 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Atlantic low will track northeast just east of Iceland on Tuesday. Frontal systems will affect Shetland Waters during the day.

Forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, but 4 at first in east Moderate or rough Rain at times Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Tuesday 24 Feb until 0600 UTC on Wednesday 25 Feb: South southwest 5 to 7 Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north and west Rain at times Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: South 4 to 5, perhaps occasionally 3 in the south of the area, backing southerly 2 to 4 late evening. Smooth to slight with a low to moderate swell, perhaps occasionally moderate mid-channel. Mist and a slight risk of fog patches early morning and after midnight, mainly near the french coast. Good, locally poor or perhaps very poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 to 4, occasionally 2 in the south of the area, generally decreasing 2 to 3 late afternoon, veering southwest 4 to 5 after midnight. Smooth to slight with a low to moderate swell, increasing rather rough in the northwest of the area overnight. Mist and a slight risk of fog patches early morning, mainly near the french coast, then again in the northwest after midnight. Good, locally poor or perhaps very poor at times.