Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure will remain centred to the north of Scotland during the next couple of days, bringing mainly settled weather to the inshore waters. The wind will be light or moderate in strength for most northern waters, but further south a fresh or strong and cold east to northeasterly airflow will persist.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 or 5 at first in northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate to the west and north of Orkney, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight until later in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle until later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in south.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less in north but easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4 in south. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in far south, becoming smooth at times in Firth of Forth. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 4 or 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth at first in Firth of Forth, becoming moderate later elsewhere. Drizzle for a time. Good, becoming moderate for a time.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in south, decreasing 2 at times later in north. Moderate becoming slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 2 at first and 5 later. Slight, becoming moderate later. Drizzle for a time later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in south. Moderate, occasionally slight later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate. Drizzle at times later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly backing northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Moderate, occasionally slight later in Thames Estuary and The Wash. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 for a time in south. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 except in far west. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time except close inshore. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

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

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time except close inshore. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first near the Isles of Scilly, then decreasing 4 at times. Rough at first in west, otherwise mainly moderate, but occasionally slight in Lyme Bay. Showers at first in west. Good, occasionally moderate at first in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first and 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later near Start Point, Prawle Point and Lizard Point. Slight or moderate in Lyme Bay, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near north Devon. Slight or moderate. Showers at first near Land's End. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in Bristol Channel and near Lundy, perhaps gale 8 later near north Devon. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Land's End. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Cardigan Bay and Caernarfon Bay. Fair. Good.

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

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near Great Orme Head, decreasing 3 at times later. Slight, occasionally moderate in west and smooth in east. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far southwest and far north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, decreasing 3 at times in north. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in north. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth until later 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 or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, then decreasing 3 at times. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in North Channel. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near the Mull of Galloway, the Mull of Kintyre and just south of Arran. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in North Channel. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in south, becoming variable 2 at times in north. Slight or moderate until later except to the east of Islay and Jura, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in far south, becoming variable 2 at times elsewhere. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate except to the east of Islay and Jura. Fair. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times, but becoming east or northeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, veering east or southeast 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in far north. Occasional drizzle until later in north. Good, occasionally moderate until later in north.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times, but becoming northeast 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Drizzle later in north. Good, occasionally moderate later in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, veering east or southeast 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle until later. Good, occasionally moderate until later.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming southwest 2 to 4, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate in north, west and south but smooth or slight in east. Mainly fair. Good.

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

Valid Friday 26 Dec 2025 at 0000 UTC until Friday 26 Dec 2025 at 1200 UTC

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

Forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southwesterly 3 or 4 later in west Moderate, but rough at first in west and slight east of Shetland Mainly fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 26 Dec until 0000 UTC on Saturday 27 Dec: Variable 3 or less at first in east, otherwise southwesterly 3 or 4, veering westerly then northwesterly 3 to 5 Slight or moderate Mainly fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly 4 to 5, perhaps occasionally 6 in the far north and far west of the area, generally increasing 5 to 6 for a time around dusk. Rather rough mid-channel, otherwise slight to moderate. Mist or fog patches likely in the far southeast late evening. Good, locally poor or very poor late evening.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 4 to 5 locally 6, increasing 5 to 6 locally 7 for a time around dusk. Slight in the far south to rather rough in the far north, increasing rough mid-channel by dusk. Mist or fog patches likely in the south of the area until soon after dawn. Good, locally poor or very poor until soon after dawn.