Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The United Kingdom lies in an unsettled and chilly northwesterly airflow. Scattered showers will affect many coastlines. These will be squally and wintry in the north with gale force gusts at times. A ridge of high pressure builds through Thursday and winds ease, before a frontal system sweeps southeastwards into Friday, bringing spells of rain and strong winds.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and east, backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, but very rough or high in northwest until later. Squally wintry showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later in northwest. Rain, squally wintry showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 to 7, backing south or southwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Rattray Head. Squally wintry showers, occasional rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near Rattray Head. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough. Squally wintry showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering northwest later, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough in north, slight or moderate in south. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in east. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain at times later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first offshore, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest veering northwest later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Mainly fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, backing west later. Rough or very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming slight later in east. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest veering northwest later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later, but occasionally moderate at first west of the Lizard peninsula. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5, then backing west or southwest later. Moderate or rough, but very rough at first near Lands End, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest veering northwest later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Lands End. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 to 5, then backing southwest later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers at first, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering northwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at times, mainly fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing southwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in Liverpool Bay. Squally wintry showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 4, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally smooth in Liverpool Bay. Rain at times, mainly fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, becoming 3 or less, then southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far north, becoming slight or moderate later. Squally wintry showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west or southwest later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north. Rain at times, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, but rough at first in the North Channel, occasionally smooth in the Firth of Clyde. Squally wintry showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in the Firth of Clyde. Rain at first, squally wintry showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North becoming variable, 2 to 4, then south or southwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in west. Squally wintry showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later. Rain at first, squally wintry showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances. Squally wintry showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances. Occasional rain, then squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 5 to 7 later. Very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming rough later. Squally wintry showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in south, becoming very rough or high later. Occasional rain, then squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then south 6 to gale 8 later. Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later. Squally wintry showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Thursday 26 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC until Thursday 26 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Low over Scandinavia filling during Thursday, as a transient ridge builds from the west. Low approaching Iceland will then push associated fronts towards Shetland Waters later.

Forecast: Northwest 7 or gale 8 becoming north or northwest 4 to 6. Very rough, occasionally high until later, but moderate or rough in lee shelter near east coast of shetland Wintry showers, squally at first Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Thursday 26 Mar until 0000 UTC on Friday 27 Mar: North or northwest 3 to 5 backing south and increasing 6 to gale 8 Rough or very rough, but moderate in lee shelter near east coast of shetland Isolated wintry showers then fair, then occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate at first and again later.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest to north 5 to 6, decreasing 4 to 5 by midday, further decreasing 2 to 3 later. Rather rough to rough, decreasing slight to moderate by midday, further decreasing smooth or slight later, with a low swell throughout. Isolated showers, locally heavy with a risk of hail, mainly at first. Good or very good, locally moderate or perhaps poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 3, backing southwest 3 to 4 around dawn, increasing 4 to 5 after midday, veering north later. Smooth or slight with a low swell, perhaps locally moderate in the northwest later. Patchy rain and drizzle by dawn. Good, occasionally moderate to poor.