Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The United Kingdom will lie in a south to southwesterly airflow during the next couple of days. A developing deep area of low pressure over the northeast Atlantic will pass close to northwestern Ireland and northwestern Scotland later on Sunday and during Sunday night. This will bring severe gales or storm force winds to northern waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in east. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, elsewhere mainly moderate or rough, but becoming very rough or high later in east. Wintry showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast veering south or southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 except in Moray Firth. Mainly moderate or rough, but very rough or high until later in far east, and becoming very rough later near northwestern Orkney. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 backing southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 in south. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later except in Firth of Forth. Showers, then rain or sleet. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, veering southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later in south. Rough or very rough until later except in Firth of Forth, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough. Mainly fair then rain or sleet. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 6 to gale 8 veering south or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north but becoming slight later in south. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in north. Showers then fair, then rain or sleet later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 6 to gale 8 veering south or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate. Showers then fair, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, becoming variable 3 or less then southerly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Wintry showers at first in east, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 6 to gale 8 veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Rough at first except in far east, otherwise moderate. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming south 4 to 6, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later. Fair then rain. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 6 to gale 8 veering southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 5 to 7, then veering southwest later and increasing gale 8 at times. Mainly moderate or rough, but slight at first in east and very rough later in far west. Fair then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4 increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, then veering southwesterly later in west. Slight or moderate, becoming rough in west, then very rough later in far west. Fair then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then decreasing 4 at times. Mainly moderate or rough, but occasionally very rough in west and slight in east. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, then veering south or southwest later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then occasionally very rough later in west. Fair then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later. Very rough at first in far west, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, then occasionally 5 again later in south. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming rough in north. Showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, then veering southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough until later except in far south, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate becoming rough, then occasionally very rough later. Mainly fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 7 or gale 8 veering southwest 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain then showers. Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5 backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8. Smooth or slight at first except in far north, otherwise moderate or rough, but occasionally very rough later in south. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly veering southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far north, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough occasionally very rough, but becoming slight or moderate later in east. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Mainly fair then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, then veering southwesterly 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time, then becoming slight or moderate later. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time near western Tiree. Rain. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast veering southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 for a time at first, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6 backing south or southeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except just north and east of Skye, and becoming very rough for a time in west. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 7 veering south or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later. Mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate just north and east of Skye. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6 backing south or southeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time except in far north. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 7 veering south or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate until later near Sutherland, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in north, becoming very rough or high later. Showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Saturday 10 Jan 2026 at 1800 UTC until Sunday 11 Jan 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Complex area of low pressure will remain slow moving south of Iceland maintaining a strong south or southeasterly flow across Shetland Waters.

Forecast: South or southeast 6 to gale 8 Rough or very rough Wintry showers, then rain later Good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Sunday 11 Jan until 1800 UTC on Sunday 11 Jan: South or southeast 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 Rough or very rough, becoming mainly high Rain Good, becoming moderate or poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming south to southeast 4 to 5 around midnight, increasing 6 to 7 towards dawn with gusts to 45kt by midday, perhaps occasionally gale 8 mid-channel for a time. Smooth or slight with a low to moderate swell, increasing slight to moderate by dawn and rather rough to rough in the north of the area in the afternoon. Rain and drizzle by dawn, perhaps locally heavy with mist patches later. Good, becoming moderate to good, perhaps locally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 6 to 7, perhaps occasionally gale 8 mid-channel, veering southwest 4 to 6 by midnight. Moderate with a low to moderate swell in the southeast of the area, rather rough to rough in the northwest. Rain and drizzle, locally heavy with mist or fog patches, clearing for a time overnight. Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor.