Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A transient ridge of high pressure will give lighter winds and mainly fair weather for many areas today, especially in the west and northeast. However a decaying frontal system will cause patchy rain or drizzle and fog patches in east and south. Strong to gale force southerly winds will return to northwest Scotland by Friday night.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north and west. Moderate or rough to north and west of Orkney, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Rain at first in east, then fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, and 6 or 7 at first near Cape Wrath. To the north and west of Orkney, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Mainly fair. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming slight, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Occasional rain at first, then fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time near Rattray Head and 2 at times in Firth of Forth. Slight, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth and, moderate at times near Rattray Head. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Northerly 3 or 4, becoming variable 1 to 3. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Rain at times until later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 for a time in east. Slight, occasionally smooth. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: North 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north, and smooth at times in south. Rain at times until later, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair, fog patches later. Good, occasionally very poor later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain at times, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Drizzle at times, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming easterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Rain and fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Drizzle at times, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming north, then east later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain at times, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast veering east, 3 or 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later offshore. Drizzle at times, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough in west, slight or smooth in west. Rain at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly becoming variable, 1 to 3. Slight, occasionally smooth until later in east, otherwise slight or moderate, but occasionally rough to west of Lands End. Drizzle or rain at times and fog patches later. Good, occasionally very poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, veering northeasterly 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough at first in west, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain at first, then fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming mainly southeasterly later, 1 to 3. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far south, and smooth at times in inner Bristol Channel. Drizzle or fog patches later. Good, occasionally very poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 1 to 3 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast, becoming variable for a time 1 to 3. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 1 to 3, then south 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth of slight. Rain at first in east, then mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 or 4. Sooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less, then south 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast, 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in east. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 offshore in north. Moderate, occasionally rough offshore in the north, but mainly slight in east and south. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northern North Channel. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near Mull of Kintyre. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth north and east of arran. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 2 to 4, backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest, increasing 6 or 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough later in west. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 at first in northwest, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Fair, rain later. Moderate or good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in central areas, becoming moderate or rough later. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 at first, and decreasing 4 at times later in north. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south entrance, becoming slight or moderate north of skye. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 6 to gale 8. Rough, occasionally moderate near Sutherland, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later west of western isles. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west, and moderate later near Sutherland. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly, backing southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, then 6 or 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in lee shelter east of Shetland, becoming rough or very rough later in northwest. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Valid Friday 06 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC until Friday 06 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Ridge of high pressure crossing the area on Friday, before starting to decline eastwards as Atlantic fronts approach the west of Scotland later.

Forecast: Westerly backing southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 in west later Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland Fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Friday 06 Mar until 0600 UTC on Saturday 07 Mar: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland at first, increasing very rough in northwest Fair Good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northerly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in the far west of the area today. Smooth or slight with a low swell. Occasional rain or drizzle, with mist and a risk of fog patches, mainly this morning and overnight. Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 2 to 3, occasionally 4 in the far north and the far west of the area, veering easterly by midday, becoming variable cyclonic 1 to 2 after midnight. Smooth or slight with a low swell. Mist, with a risk of drizzle and fog patches, mainly in the morning and overnight risk of thundery showers in the far west of the area around midnight. Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor at times.