Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of high pressure will remain dominant across much of the United Kingdom over the next couple of days giving a good deal of settled weather and just a few showers. However a strengthening southwesterly flow will develop across the far northwest of Scotland whilst an area of low pressure will develop close to southeast England with stronger winds, and rain or showers increasing here, moving gradually northwards and westwards.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Westerly backing southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, elsewhere smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in east. Showers mainly in north. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Mainly fair. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly northwesterly at first, 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later in north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Showers at first in north. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 until later in south, otherwise southwesterly, backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly, backing northwesterly for a time in far north, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly veering easterly, then southeasterly later, 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally slight at first. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south. Moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 to 6, veering easterly, then southeasterly later, 3 to 5. Moderate. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in south. Moderate, occasionally slight in Thames estuary and rough in east. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic mainly northeasterly, 4 to 6, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northeast. Rain or showers, thundery at first, fair later. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in east. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near North Foreland. Occasional rain or showers in east and later in west, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor in east and later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic at first in east, otherwise northerly or northeasterly veering southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Rain or showers at first, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally smooth near shore and moderate elsewhere. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast veering east or southeast, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight until later near shore. Showers, perhaps thundery, fair later. Good, occasionally poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth near shore in east. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east. Slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel and moderate at first in west. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast, veering southeast later, 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair then occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, veering southeasterly 2 or 3 for a time in north. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near St Davids Head. Fair then occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 2 to 4. Smooth, occasionally slight at first. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5, veering southeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 2 or 3. Smooth. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 2 or 3, increasing 3 or 4, then 4 or 5 later, then veering southeast later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in far north, smooth or slight elsewhere. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate in far north, elsewhere smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly for a time, 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near Mull of Kintyre. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in northwest. Smooth or slight east of islay and jura, slight or moderate elsewhere, occasionally rough later in northwest. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered southeast and rough in west. Fair. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first, then increasing 6 at times mainly in north. Smooth or slight until later in central areas, otherwise slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 in south and 7 in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth east of skye. Fair. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first, then increasing 6 at times mainly in north. Slight or moderate between barra and canna, moderate occasionally rough elsewhere. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 in south and 7 in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest. Fair. Good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 2 to 4, backing south or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in shelter in east. Mainly fair. Good.

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

Valid Saturday 17 Oct 2026 at 1800 UTC until Sunday 18 Oct 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: The ridge of high pressure that extends over your area from the south will decline eastwards on Sunday as Atlantic troughs approach.

Forecast: Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in northwest Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland Mainly fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Sunday 18 Oct until 1800 UTC on Sunday 18 Oct: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in southeast Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland Mainly fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North to northeast 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6 at times, locally 2 to 3 later. Slight to moderate with a low swell. Scattered showers by midnight. Good or very good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North to northeast 4 to 5, locally 6, occasionally cyclonic 2 to 3 mainly in the south of the area, veering south to southwest 4 to 5 by midday, backing west 3 to 4 later. Slight to moderate, decreasing smooth to slight. Showers, perhaps locally heavy. Good or very good, occasionally moderate or perhaps poor.