Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure centred over the North Sea will migrate slowly westwards during the christmas period, bringing mainly settled weather to the inshore waters. Winds will be mainly light or moderate for northern waters, but in the south a strong and cold east to northeasterly airflow will increase gale force at first.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Variable becoming mainly south or southeast, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in north or northwest, elsewhere smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor near shore.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming north or northeast later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in north and northwest, elsewhere smooth or slight. Drizzle at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable becoming mainly easterly in south, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming mainly northerly or northeasterly later, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Drizzle at times. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: East 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Moderate, occasionally slight in north. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East veering northeast 2 to 4. Moderate, becoming mainly slight. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 to 6. Moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate, becoming slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally slight in Thames estuary and later in the wash. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

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

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 until later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough off shore and near exposed headlands in west, becoming mainly moderate later. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far west. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Moderate, occasionally slight in Bristol Channel, but rough at times in west. Showers in south. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 5 or 6, increasing 7 at times. Slight or moderate. Showers at first near Lands End. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time near St Davids Head, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time near St Davids Head. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6. Mainly smooth or slight in Cardigan Bay and caernarfon bay, but slight or moderate elsewhere. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time near Anglesey. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in south and for a time near Mull of Galloway. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south. Slight, occasionally moderate in south and north. Fair. Good.

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

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times near Mull of Galloway. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Galloway and Mull of Kintyre. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at times near Mull of Galloway. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Galloway. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 in north. Smooth or slight east of islay and jura, otherwise slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly at times, 3 to 5. Mainly smooth in shelter east of islay and jura, otherwise slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable mainly south or southeast, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor near shore.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable mainly south or southeast, 2 to 4. Moderate, occasionally rough at first to the west of the Outer Hebrides and slight between barra and canna. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor near shore.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Moderate, occasionally rough in west and slight in east. Fair. Good.

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

Valid Thursday 25 Dec 2025 at 0600 UTC until Thursday 25 Dec 2025 at 1800 UTC

General situation: An area of high pressure will cover Shetland waters.

Forecast: West or southwest 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less. Moderate or rough, but slight east of shetland. Fair. Good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Thursday 25 Dec until 0600 UTC on Friday 26 Dec: Variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate, but rough at first in west. Fair. Good.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 7 to gale 8 with gusts to 50kt, veering east 6 to 7 by midday, decreasing 5 to 6 by dusk, then 4 to 5 by midnight. Rather rough to rough, locally very rough mid-channel at first, decreasing slight to moderate later, occasionally rather rough mid-channel. Rain or sleet, but snow likely at first, mainly near the french coast, all clearing by midday. Good or very good, occasionally moderate, locally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 4 to 5, occasionally 6 mid-channel. Slight to moderate, occasionally rather rough mid-channel. Fair. Good or very good.