Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Low pressure to the north and northwest of the United Kingdom will bring a southerly or southwesterly flow through the period. Northern and western waters in particular will see spells of rain or showers, with a risk of fog patches. Settled weather is expected in the southeast as high pressure builds, which will become more extensive across the south by Friday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise southwesterly backing southerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northwest. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later near Cape Wrath. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north and later in southeast. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Southwest backing south later, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight, but moderate at first in north. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Slight, occasionally smooth in southwest, occasionally moderate later in north. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: West or southwest, backing south for a time, 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Smooth or slight. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south or southeast for a time, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight. Showers, rain later in north. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers at first in north. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near North Foreland. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in south. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly backing southerly 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times later in north. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4, then becoming variable 3 or less later. Moderate becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeasterly 3 or 4 for a time. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south, then east or southeast later, 2 to 4. Moderate, becoming slight later. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast veering south, 3 or 4, then becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 or 5, backing southerly, then southeasterly later, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in west. Rough at first in far west, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in lyme bay. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast, veering southwest later, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in west, then becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight in lyme bay, elsewhere slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle and fog patches for a time in west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly, 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in the inner Bristol Channel. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in the inner Bristol Channel. Rain or showers, fog patches developing. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast veering south, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in the inner Bristol Channel. Occasional drizzle and fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times west of Anglesey. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain and fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first west of Anglesey. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in northeast. Occasional drizzle and fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times in north and west. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain and fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north and west. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Liverpool Bay. Occasional rain at first in north. Moderate or good ,occasionally poor at first in north.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, backing south or southwest 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate. Fair, then occasional rain or drizzle, isolated fog patches later. Good, then moderate or poor, perhaps very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, backing southeast 3 or 4 for a time. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair, isolated fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in south. Slight or moderate. Fair, then rain at times, fog patches later in south. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later, or very poor later in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers at first. 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: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in the North Channel. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in North Channel. Fair, then rain at times, fog patches developing in south. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later, or very poor in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 4 or 5, decreasing 3 at times in the Firth of Clyde. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers at first. Moderate or good occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Southwest backing south or southeast, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. Fair then rain or showers, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly, 4 or 5, increasing 6 for a time in north. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good occasionally very poor at first.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest backing south for a time, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth north of skye. Fair then rain or drizzle, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth north of skye. Rain then showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest backing south for a time, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Rough becoming moderate. Fair then rain or drizzle, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south for a time, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Rain then showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in west. Moderate, becoming slight later in east. Occasional rain, showers for a time, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

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

Valid Wednesday 20 May 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 21 May 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: A low to the northwest of Scotland will slowly fill with a southerly or southwesterly airstream over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southerly 4 or 5 veering southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in west. Moderate, becoming slight later just east of shetland. Rain at times. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 21 May until 1800 UTC on Thursday 21 May: Southwest backing south 3 or 4. Moderate, but slight in shelter to the east of shetland. Rain then fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West to southwest 3 to 4 in the north at first, otherwise variable 1 to 3 becoming southerly overnight then backing east to northeast Thursday morning, backing northeast 2 to 4 later. Slight to moderate with a moderate swell, decreasing smooth to slight with a low swell. Risk of mist or fog patches after midnight into the afternoon. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor after midnight.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 4, perhaps occasionally 5 mid-channel in the evening, veering southeast to south overnight, becoming easterly or variable 1 to 3 later. Smooth to slight, with a low swell. Fair or fine. Good.