Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A transient ridge of high pressure will move away east on Thursday, ahead of an Atlantic frontal system which will bring rain in from the west, along with strong winds, and a risk of gales for some northwestern coastlines and also later in the southeast. Squally showers will follow from the northwest on Friday on a strong northwesterly airflow.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing south or southeast, 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later, then veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth and moderate elsewhere. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, slight or moderate elsewhere, becoming moderate or rough in northwest, occasionally very rough later in northwest. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest, backing south or southwest later, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 for a time. Smooth or slight in Firth of Forth, slight or moderate elsewhere. Showers then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest, backing south or southwest later, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 for a time. Slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west or southwest 2 to 4, then south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Moderate, occasionally slight near shore. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South veering southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first. Moderate, but mainly slight near shore. Rain at first, showers later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 or 6, backing westerly 3 or 4, then southwesterly 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary. Showers at first, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering westerly, 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near North Foreland. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fair later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4, backing westerly or southwesterly 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight occasionally moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fair later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4, backing west or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time, occasionally rough later in east. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 5 or 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near shore. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time except in far west, becoming rough later west of Lands End. Fair then rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate occasionally rough. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Fair then rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 or 7, veering northwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later except in far north. Showers then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west or northwest, 5 to 7. Moderate, occasionally rough until later. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7, veering west later. Smooth or slight at first in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 to 7. Moderate, occasionally slight near shore in far north. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first, becoming moderate later. Showers, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west, 5 or 6, increasing 6 or 7 later. Mainly moderate. Rain at first, then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 5 to 7, veering westerly later, occasionally 4 later. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far northwest. Showers, rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north, becoming rough or very rough later in far north. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 5 to 7, veering westerly later, occasionally 4 later. Mainly moderate near Mull of Kintyre, otherwise smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers, rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later near Mull of Kintyre. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Mull of Kintyre and later elsewhere in south. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, backing south or southeast 6 or 7, veering west 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far northwest, becoming moderate or rough later except in sheltered east. Showers, rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in shelter and becoming rough or very rough elsewhere, becoming high later west of Tiree. Squally showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight at first in central areas, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times near entrances. Squally showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later. Moderate occasionally rough. Showers, rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later west of the Outer Hebrides. Squally showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 6 or 7 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough later in west. Showers at first, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

Valid Thursday 08 Oct 2026 at 0600 UTC until Thursday 08 Oct 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: The showery northerly flow will ease as a weak ridge of high pressure crosses from the west. A south to southeasterly airstream will develop later as Atlantic fronts approach from the west.

Forecast: North 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate, but slight in lee shelter just east of shetland Showers at first then fair Good occasionally moderate at first

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Thursday 08 Oct until 0600 UTC on Friday 09 Oct: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southeast 5 to 7. Moderate, becoming rough later in northwest, but slight at first in lee shelter just east of shetland Fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North to northwest 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6 at first, decreasing 3 to 4 around midday, backing west to southwest 4 to 5 by evening and increasing 5 to 6 later. Slight to moderate, locally rather rough at first, decreasing smooth or slight by dusk, increasing moderate to rather rough later. Isolated showers until midday patchy rain from midnight. Good, locally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to southwest 5 to 6, increasing 6 to 7 by midday, veering northwest 5 to 6 around dusk, decreasing 4 to 5 later. Moderate to rather rough, increasing rather rough to rough by midday, decreasing moderate to rather rough overnight. Patchy rain or drizzle, with a risk of mist patches from mid-afternoon, clearing by midnight. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.