Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure will remain centred near Iceland, with a strengthening easterly flow across the United Kingdom, becoming strong across many southern and some western waters with a risk of gales developing in the far southwest. Some showers across the north and east will clear with mainly fair conditions dominating across the inshore waters, but occasional rain may return to the far southwest on Wednesday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: East 3 to 5, backing northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 2 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later in south. Showers at first, occasional drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north, becoming smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: East backing northeast, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers at first, occasional drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, then decreasing 2 at times. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in south. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight becoming moderate. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4, veering east later. Moderate becoming slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight becoming moderate. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate becoming moderate. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers at first in east. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first then increasing 6 at times. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate occasionally rough. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in far southwest. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west and later in east. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Isles of Scilly. Fair, then occasional rain in west. Good, occasionally moderate in west.

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

24 hour forecast: East 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east, becoming rough at times near Lands End. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west. Fair, then occasional rain in west. Good, occasionally moderate in west.

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

24 hour forecast: East, backing northeast for a time, 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Cardigan Bay and caernarfon bay. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first and 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight occasionally moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East 4 to 6. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers, fair later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first and 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in North Channel. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde, otherwise slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southwest. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south and 3 in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Fair. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in southeast. Slight, occasionally smooth to the south and east of skye and moderate in far north and at first near southern entrance. Showers at first. Good occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 in south and 6 in north. Moderate, occasionally slight southwest of canna and near Sutherland. Showers at first. Good occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later in south, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast 3 or 4. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

Valid Tuesday 21 Apr 2026 at 0000 UTC until Tuesday 21 Apr 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Ridge of high pressure covers Shetland Waters

Forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, but easterly or southeasterly at first in southwest Moderate, but slight east of shetland Fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Tuesday 21 Apr until 0000 UTC on Wednesday 22 Apr: North or northeast 3 or 4 Slight or moderate Fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 5 to 6, occasionally 4 in the southeast of the area, perhaps 7 mid-channel later. Slight in the far southeast, moderate to rather rough elsewhere, increasing rough in the far north by evening. Fair or fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 5 to 6, locally 7, mainly mid-channel, at first, decreasing 4 to 5 later. Slight to moderate in the southeast, rather rough to rough elsewhere, decreasing smooth or slight with a low swell later. Fair or fine. Good or very good.