Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A mainly southerly or southwesterly airflow will become established across the United Kingdom with frontal bands bringing some rain to most areas, along with strong winds, and a risk of gales in the west.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in east. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north and later in east. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, veering southwesterly 4 to 6, then westerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later. Slight becoming mainly moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Fair then rain at times. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 to 7, veering southwest, then west or northwest later, 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough in north and slight in south. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 to 7, veering west or southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times in north and also later in south. Slight becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers for a time. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near Whitby, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in east. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers for a time. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 for a time. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough near Selsey Bill. Occasional rain or showers, fair later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate occasionally rough. Rain at times, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first and slight later. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, perhaps gale 8 later in west. Moderate or rough, becoming mainly very rough later in west. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near Isles of Scilly, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west, becoming slight or moderate later in east. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in far west. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough later in west. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except east of Anglesey, occasionally very rough later in south. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west, becoming slight or moderate in north and later in south. Occasional rain, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in north. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, veering southwesterly, then northwesterly later, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough at first in north, occasionally very rough at first near Mull of Galloway, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 5 or 6 increasing 6 to gale 8. Slight, becoming moderate or rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 or 5, then north or northwest 3 or 4 later. Rough occasionally very rough, becoming slight or moderate. Rain at first, then mainly fair. Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6, then northwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in southeast, becoming slight or moderate except in far north. Rain or showers. 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: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6, then northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near Mull of Galloway, becoming slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time at first and again later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east and very rough later west of Tiree. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east and very rough in west. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south and west. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight northeast of skye, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in north, increasing gale 8 at times mainly later. Mainly slight or moderate near Sutherland, but elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally very rough west of the Outer Hebrides. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough until later near Sutherland, otherwise rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough. Fair, rain later. Moderate or good.

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

Valid Sunday 01 Mar 2026 at 0000 UTC until Sunday 01 Mar 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A ridge of high pressure over Shetland Waters declines as a frontal trough moves northeast across Scotland then Shetland Sunday into Monday.

Forecast: Southwest 3 or 4 soon backing south 4 to 6. Rough, but slight or moderate to the southeast of shetland. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Sunday 01 Mar until 0000 UTC on Monday 02 Mar: South backing southeast 5 to 7. Moderate or rough. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southwest 5 to 6, perhaps 7 mid-channel at first, locally 4 later. Slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell, occasionally rather rough mid-channel. Occasional rain and drizzle, becoming widespread by dawn, then patchy and light by late morning, clearing in the afternoon. Good to very good, becoming moderate, locally poor overnight.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 5 to 6, decreasing 4 to 5 by midday, locally variable 2 to 3 later. Slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell, locally smooth later. Risk of mist patches near the french coast after dusk. Good or very good, perhaps locally poor later.