Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A complex area of low pressure centred near Iceland will maintain a blustery southwesterly flow across the United Kingdom on Thursday with squally showers and gales, but severe gales for some waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time in northeast and later near Cape Wrath. To the north and west of Orkney, rough or very rough, elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering westerly 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough to the north and west of Orkney, slight or moderate in Moray Firth, moderate or rough elsewhere. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, but 5 to 7 at first and later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north. Occasional rain, squally showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6, then 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Firth of Forth. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6 at first and later, but increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time in northeast. Fair at first, then rain or showers, squally at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6 at first and later, backing south or southwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time offshore. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later in south. Slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 at first in south, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then mainly rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6, then northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Mainly rough, becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6, then northwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, then slight or moderate later. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough west of the Lizard peninsula and later near exposed headlands in south. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, then veering northwest 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough, high at first near Isles of Scilly, becoming moderate or rough except in far west, becoming slight or moderate in east. Rain at first, then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in east, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in east. Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, veering northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain, then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 or 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough except to the east of Anglesey. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later, veering northwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south. Showers, squally at times. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later, veering west 5 or 6 for a time later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time. Rain for a time, showers later, squally at times. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later, veering northwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 or 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, veering west or southwest 5 to 7 later. Moderate becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later. Mainly fair, rain for a time, then showers. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough west of rathlin. Occasional rain, then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, veering northwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north, becoming slight or moderate later in east. Squally showers, wintry at times. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Slight or moderate north of arran, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Occasional rain, squally showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing southwesterly 4 to 6, then veering northwesterly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate occasionally rough in North Channel until later. Squally showers, wintry at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. Moderate or rough in sheltered east, otherwise very rough or high. Rain, then squally and wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, veering westerly 4 to 6, then northerly 5 or 6 later. Very rough or high in west, but moderate or rough in sheltered east. Squally showers, wintry at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near entrances. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near entrances, becoming slight or moderate in central areas. Rain or squally, wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first mainly in south and later in north. Very rough or high, occasionally rough near Sutherland. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering westerly, then northwesterly later, 5 to 7. Very rough or high, occasionally rough near Sutherland. Rain or squally, wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 7 or gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first and 6 later. Very rough or high, occasionally rough in shelter east of Shetland. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Thursday 12 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC until Thursday 12 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Deep low complex to the west and northwest of your locations, bringing a gale to severe gale south to southwest flow.

Forecast: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 later Very rough or high Rain occasionally heavy Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Thursday 12 Mar until 0000 UTC on Friday 13 Mar: Southwest 6 to gale 8 Very rough occasionally high, but rough in lee shelter of shetland Showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 5, soon increasing 5 to 6 with gusts to 35kt, further increasing 6 to 7 by mid-morning, perhaps gale 8 mid-channel after dusk. Slight to moderate with a moderate swell in the south and east, rather rough to rough elsewhere, perhaps very rough in the north and west later. Risk of isolated showers at first rain from evening, locally heavy towards midnight. Good, locally moderate, poor at times later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to 7, perhaps gale 8 mid-channel at first, veering west 5 to 6 by morning, decreasing 4 to 5 later. Slight to moderate with a moderate swell in the south and east, rather rough to rough elsewhere until dusk, perhaps very rough mid-channel in the north and west at first. Occasional rain, becoming more persistent and heavy, clearing to showers, locally heavy in the afternoon. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor at times.