Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of high pressure will move away northeastwards over the next 24 hours as a complex area of low pressure deepens in the Atlantic, to the west of the United Kingdom. The deepening Atlantic low will bring strong winds and gales to northern and western parts with occasional rain or showers spreading northeastwards on Tuesday night.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest backing southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, veering southerly 3 to 5 later. To the north and west of Orkney, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough. Occasional drizzle and fog patches in southeast, rain for a time later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in southeast, becoming good occasionally poor later.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Occasional drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later, then veering southerly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough. Drizzle or fog patches at first, rain for a time later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Occasional drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 6, veering south 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough in far northeast. Drizzle and fog patches at first, rain for a time later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Smooth or slight becoming moderate later. Occasional drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast, veering south later, 4 to 6. Moderate. Occasional drizzle or fog patches at first, rain for a time later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Easterly, veering southeasterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far northeast. Showers at first in far south, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly, veering southerly or southwesterly later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly, veering southeasterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in south. Showers at first in south, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor at first in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly 4 to 6, then southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast, veering southwest later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west, veering southeasterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in west. Rough at first in far west, otherwise, slight to moderate occasionally smooth at first in lyme bay, becoming moderate or rough later. Occasional drizzle, rain later in west. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 at first in west, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough. Rain, then thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later near Lands End. Rough at first in far southwest, otherwise mainly slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in southwest. Occasional drizzle, rain later in west. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel, otherwise moderate or rough. Occasional drizzle, thundery showers later. Rain then thundery showers.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far north. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Occasional drizzle in south later. Good, occasionally moderate in south later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far south, veering southerly 3 to 5, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far south. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in far northwest. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Mainly fair, rain later in far south. Good, occasionally moderate later in far south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, backing southeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 later. Slight, becoming moderate later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 6 or 7, veering southerly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair, occasional heavy rain later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 6 to gale 8, veering south or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later in North Channel. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 6 to gale 8, veering south or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 6 to gale 8, veering south or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, except in central areas. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near southern entrance, smooth at times northeast of skye. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near southern entrance, occasionally smooth later north of skye. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near Sutherland. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 3 or 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east. Mainly fair. Good.

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

Valid Monday 28 Sep 2026 at 1800 UTC until Tuesday 29 Sep 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Low pressure west of the UK brings a strengthening southeasterly flow during Tuesday.

Forecast: Southwest backing southeast 4 or 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight just east of shetland. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Tuesday 29 Sep until 1800 UTC on Tuesday 29 Sep: Southeast 4 or 5, strengthening 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight just east of shetland. Fair. Good.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East 4 to 5, locally 3 in the south of the area, veering southeast by dawn, perhaps locally 6 from mid-afternoon. Smooth or slight with a low swell, occasionally moderate mid-channel from midday. Patchy rain, spreading northwards to clear around dawn tomorrow risk of thunder overnight perhaps some mist patches near french coast until dawn. Good, locally moderate, or perhaps poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 5, locally 6, veering south 5 to 6 around midnight, further veering southwest 4 to 5 by dawn, perhaps locally 6 in the north. Slight to moderate, occasionally rather rough or perhaps rough mid-channel after midnight. Risk of patchy rain at first, then widespread rain, locally heavy with a risk of mist patches from mid-evening until mid-morning isolated showers later. Good, moderate to poor for a time.