Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A ridge of high pressure giving light winds for many areas will drift southeastwards over the next couple of days as a mainly southerly airflow develops across the United Kingdom. Patchy rain will affect most areas at times and with fog patches along some southern and eastern coasts.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time at first in south. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney, smooth or slight in Moray Firth, slight or moderate elsewhere. Occasional rain in northwest and later in southeast. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northwest. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 in far south, but elsewhere southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate in north and smooth in south. Drizzle and fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate near Rattray Head and smooth in south. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South or southwest backing southeast, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first and very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast, veering southwest later, 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches developing. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Fog patches at first, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight becoming mainly smooth. Drizzle at times, fog patches. Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming easterly or southeasterly, then veering southwesterly later, 2 to 4. Smooth. Drizzle at times, fog banks. Moderate to very poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, becoming variable mainly easterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers later, fog patches. Moderate to very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Showers, fog patches at first. Moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first then decreasing 2 at times. Slight, occasionally moderate offshore. Showers or drizzle, fog patches. Moderate to very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Drizzle and fog patches then showers. Moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Easterly 3 to 5 at first in far east, otherwise variable mainly southeasterly, 2 to 4. Moderate or rough to the west of land's end, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain, drizzle or showers, fog patches. Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming westerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 near Isles of Scilly. Moderate or rough at first near the Isles of Scilly, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming smooth or slight in east. Occasional drizzle then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable becoming east or southeast, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east and rough at first near land's end. Occasional rain, drizzle or showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east. Occasional drizzle then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southeast 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate in south and smooth in north. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast veering south or southwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate in south and smooth in north. Occasional rain, drizzle or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less at times in Solway Firth. Smooth or slight. Fair at first in north, otherwise occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast becoming variable, then southwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later near Mull of Galloway. Smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair, occasional rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Mainly south 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough at first in far north, otherwise slight, occasionally moderate in north. Fair then occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in northwest, increasing 5 or 6 later. Mainly slight, but moderate in far north. Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight to the north and east of arran, but elsewhere slight occasionally moderate. Mainly fair, rain or drizzle later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate near Mull of Kintyre, but elsewhere mainly slight. Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far northwest. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough at first in northwest. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times until later, then increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west, occasionally very rough later west of Tiree. Rain then showers. Moderate or good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in northwest. Moderate or rough until later in southwest, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later northeast of skye. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in northwest, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth just east and north of skye. Rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later except in far northeast. Rough or very rough at first except near Sutherland, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 5 at first near Cape Wrath, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. Rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west. Occasional rain in west. Moderate or good.

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

Valid Sunday 08 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC until Sunday 08 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Atlantic weather fronts approaching the west of Scotland will maintain a fresh or strong southerly flow over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: South 4 to 6. Very rough in north and west, otherwise moderate or rough. Mainly fair, occasional rain in west. Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Sunday 08 Mar until 0600 UTC on Monday 09 Mar: South or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough west. Mainly fair, occasional rain in west. Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Southeast 2 to 3, locally 4 in the north of the area at first, occasionally variable 1 to 2, increasing 3 to 4 after dusk. Smooth, locally slight, with a low swell. Widespread mist and fog, with drizzle at times, becoming patchier later scattered showers from late afternoon, perhaps thundery near the french coast. Moderate to poor, occasionally very poor, becoming moderate to good later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South to southeast 3 to 4, decreasing 2 to 3 by midday, locally variable 1 to 2, veering southwest later. Smooth, locally slight, with a low swell. Occasional mist or fog patches isolated showers or thunderstorms developing in the afternoon near the french coast. Moderate to good, occasionally poor or very poor.