Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A ridge of high pressure extending south across the United Kingdom will give predominantly fine weather with generally light or moderate breezes, but strengthening at times mainly across the far south and far north.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, veering easterly later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in north and later in east. Showers in northeast. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly veering southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Showers later. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later except in Firth of Forth. Fog patches developing in Firth of Forth. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in Firth of Forth.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East veering south or southeast, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight in Firth of Forth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Southeast becoming variable, then northeast later, 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 or 3, veering south or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight becoming moderate. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 or 4 later. Slight. Fog patches developing near shore. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor near shore.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 3 or 4, veering southeast 2 or 3, increasing 4 or 5 later. Slight, becoming moderate in north. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth in the wash and in south. Fog patches developing near shore. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor near shore.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming easterly or northeasterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in south. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, decreasing 2 to 4, becoming variable later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first and smooth later. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming east 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming easterly or northeasterly, 2 to 4. Slight occasionally moderate. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor in far west.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming east 3 to 5 for a time in Bristol Channel. Slight, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel and moderate at first in far west. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor in far southwest.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly east at first, 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first. Slight, occasionally smooth in north and moderate near St Davids Head. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth, occasionally slight at first. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5 for a time, occasionally 6 for a time in Liverpool Bay. Smooth or slight. Fair then showers. Good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming slight occasionally moderate for a time. Mainly fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth occasionally slight. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times later. Smooth. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth, becoming slight for a time in North Channel. Fair then showers. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Variable mainly east, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth in south and east. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming south or southeast, then veering southwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later in south. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in far north. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise northeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in south and moderate in north. Fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south. Slight, occasionally moderate west of the Outer Hebrides and later in far north. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise easterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north. Moderate, occasionally slight in south. Fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest veering north, 4 to 6, veering northeast 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Showers. Good.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland

Valid Friday 24 Apr 2026 at 1800 UTC until Saturday 25 Apr 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: A ridge of high pressure covers Shetland Waters. This ridge briefly declines on Friday night as a weak trough sinks south over the area.

Forecast: Northwesterly veering northerly 4 to 6. Moderate, but slight in southwest at first. occasionally rough in northeast. Light showers. Mainly good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Saturday 25 Apr until 1800 UTC on Saturday 25 Apr: Northerly 5 or 6 decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough. Light showers at first. Mainly good.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 4 to 5, decreasing 2 to 4 by dawn. Locally moderate to rather rough at first in the northwest, otherwise smooth to slight with a low swell. Fair or fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast, 2 to 4, locally 5 in the north of the area after midday. Smooth to slight, locally moderate later. Fair or fine. Good or very good.