Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Low pressure over the North Sea will bring rain or showers to most areas at first, wintry at times mainly in the north, and with gales across some northern and eastern waters. This low will move away east as a ridge of high pressure builds across the United Kingdom on Tuesday giving a brief but more settled spell of weather with lighter winds.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, but very rough or high at first in north, occasionally slight in Moray Firth later. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Wintry showers, mainly in north. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 9 at first in north, decreasing 3 to 5 later, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate in Firth of Forth, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Rattray Head. Rain or wintry showers, fair later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, veering east or northeast 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in east. Wintry showers, fair later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast veering southeast, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Mainly fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering east or northeast 3 to 5 later. Slight becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north. Rain or showers, perhaps wintry. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast veering east or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Wintry showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, veering northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Rain or showers, perhaps wintry in north, fair later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 3 to 5, veering easterly 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then easterly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Occasional rain in west. Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then east or southeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers at first, rain later in west. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast backing northeast later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time offshore. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, but rough or very rough until later in west. Showers, squally at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, veering northeast 3 to 5, then southeast 5 to 7 later. Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east. Showers, squally at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, backing northeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough in far 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: Northwest 4 to 6, veering east 2 to 4, then southeast 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near st david's head, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 6 to gale 8, backing east or northeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times in far west. Rain in south. Good, occasionally moderate in south.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, veering northeast 3 to 5, then southeast 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in east. Showers at first, perhaps wintry. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing east 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 or 6, veering northeast 3 or 4, then east or southeast 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, veering northeast 3 to 5, then southeast 5 to 7 later. Rough until later in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Wintry showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times in far south. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly 3 to 5, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in shelter. Wintry showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in North Channel. Smooth or slight in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in North Channel. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 to 6, veering east 3 or 4, then southeast 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west and slight later in sheltered east. Wintry showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time offshore. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west. Fair. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in central areas, becoming rough or very rough for a time in north. Wintry showers, fair later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near northern entrance. Wintry showers in north. Good, occasionally poor in north.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in south. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Wintry showers, fair later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers in north. Good, occasionally poor in north.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 7 to severe gale 9, backing west or northwest becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6. Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in south. Rain then snow showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Tuesday 17 Feb 2026 at 0000 UTC until Tuesday 17 Feb 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A cold front clears southeast over the area first thing Monday with a strong to gale force northerly flow following. A ridge then builds from the southwest on Tuesday with winds easing.

Forecast: North 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time, backing northwest 4 to 6 later Very rough or high, becoming rough in shelter southeast of shetland Rain in east at first, then snow showers Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Tuesday 17 Feb until 0000 UTC on Wednesday 18 Feb: West or northwest 4 to 6 Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later in shelter south of shetland Snow showers Good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 5 to 6, veering north to northwest 4 to 5 after midnight, becoming variable 2 to 3 by midday, then becoming southeast 3 to 4 by dusk, increasing 6 to 7 later. Rough to very rough, decreasing slight with a moderate swell by midday, increasing moderate in the north and west later. Isolated showers, perhaps locally heavy, dying out by dawn rain spreading from the west from midday. Good, occasionally moderate or perhaps poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to southeast 6 to 7, veering south to southeast 3 to 4 around dawn, locally 6 mid-channel until midday, occasionally 5 Wednesday afternoon. Slight to moderate, occasionally rather rough to rough mid-channel. Rain, locally heavy, perhaps with mist or fog patches. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps poor or very poor.