Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure will persist over the next few days with mainly light or moderate breezes and fair weather for most areas. However, a decaying cold front will bring rain, drizzle and fog patches to the northwest, before clearing on Tuesday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in south. To the west and north of Orkney, moderate, occasionally rough later, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches at first in northwest, becoming fair. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in northwest.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough until later to the west and north of Orkney, smooth or slight elsewhere. Showers at first in north. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Southwest becoming variable, then northeast later, 2 to 4. Smooth. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast, veering southeast later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5 for a time, becoming north or northeast 4 or 5 later. Smooth, occasionally slight later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast, veering east later, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth, occasionally slight in far north. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in south. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Mainly fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 2 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: East or southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight in east, moderate in west. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable mainly east or northeast, 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight until later in east. Fair. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate in southwest and smooth in east. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 or 3 at first in east, occasionally 6 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate in west. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, veering northeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in southwest. Fair. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth, occasionally slight later in northwest. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 or 4, veering east or northeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor at first in northwest.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or 3, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in west. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in west, veering easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north. Fair, then occasional drizzle and fog patches in far north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in far north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly, but northeasterly in far south and veering easterly or northeasterly later elsewhere, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north and later far southeast. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 in North Channel. Smooth or slight. Fair, then occasional drizzle and fog patches near Mull of Kintyre. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor near Mull of Kintyre.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly, veering easterly or northeasterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in north, otherwise variable, becoming northwesterly later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northwest. Occasional drizzle with fog patches, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first, veering easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in central areas. Rain or drizzle with fog patches, then fair, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest becoming variable, then east later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Showers at first. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later. Moderate occasionally rough. Rain or drizzle with fog patches, then fair, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest becoming variable, then east later, 2 to 4. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. Showers at first. Good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 5 or 6. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in sheltered east. Rain or drizzle at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

Valid Monday 25 May 2026 at 1200 UTC until Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Southwesterly flow will prevail across Shetland Waters, veering Westerly on Tuesday morning

Forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 later in northwest Moderate or rough, but slight east of shetland Mainly fair Mainly good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Tuesday 26 May until 1200 UTC on Tuesday 26 May: Southwest veering west 5 or 6 Moderate or rough, but slight just east of shetland Fair Good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 3 to 4, veering east to southeast 2 to 4 by midnight, occasionally variable 1 to 2. Smooth locally slight, with a low swell. Fair or fine. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 3 to 4, locally variable 1 to 2 at times, veering east to southeast overnight, perhaps locally 5 mid-channel later. Smooth locally slight, with a low swell. A risk of isolated thundery showers near the french coast until dusk. Good, perhaps locally moderate at first.