Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A deep Atlantic low will move northeastwards, passing between Scotland and Iceland during the next 24 hours. This will bring severe gale or storm force winds to northern waters, with gales affecting many other areas. Winds will then gradually ease overnight and through Wednesday, as a ridge of high pressure builds from the south, bringing more settled conditions to most areas.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 at times in north, occasionally 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high to the north and west of Orkney and occasionally very rough elsewhere except in Moray Firth. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and 5 in south, decreasing 4 to 6 later. To the west and north of Orkney, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, elsewhere moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers, squally at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times until later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south and very rough in north. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. Showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 5 to 7. Slight or moderate. Rain for a time at first, showers later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east. Rain for a time, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south and later in north. Mainly fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later in east. Rain for a time, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough occasionally very rough, becoming moderate or rough. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 or 5, backing south 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west, becoming slight or moderate in east. Showers at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 5 to 7. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 4 or 5, then south 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west and slight later in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, veering west or southwest 5 to 7. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in north. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming slight later. Showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South gale 8 or severe gale 9, veering southwest 7 or gale 8, then west or southwest 6 or 7. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 or 7, decreasing 5 or 6, then 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far north and at first elsewhere. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Moderate, occasionally rough in far north and at first in southeast, becoming slight later in south. Rain then showers, fair later. 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 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in North Channel, becoming slight or moderate later in far north. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in North Channel. Rain then showers, fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest veering west or southwest, 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 for a time. Moderate or rough at first in south and east, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming high at times in west. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east, becoming rough or very rough for a time. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except near entrances. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later. Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough. Rain or squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later, then veering southwest 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally rough later in east. Rain, then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Tuesday 27 Oct 2026 at 0000 UTC until Tuesday 27 Oct 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A deep Atlantic low will pass to the northwest of Shetland Waters on Tuesday

Forecast: South or southeast 6 or 7 becoming south or southwest gale 8 to severe gale 9. Rough, becoming very rough or high. Rain then showers Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Tuesday 27 Oct until 0000 UTC on Wednesday 28 Oct: Southerly at first in northeast, otherwise southwesterly gale 8 or severe gale 9, occasionally 7 later. High, becoming very high for a time in northwest, and becoming rough or very rough later east of shetland. Showers. Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest to south 5 to 6, increasing 6 to 7 by midnight, with gusts to 45kt for a time, veering west to southwest 5 to 6 after dawn, locally 4 at times, further veering west 4 to 5 by dusk. Moderate to rough, locally slight in the far south of the area, occasionally very rough mid-channel after midnight. Rain and drizzle, with a risk of mist patches spreading eastwards after midnight, clearing to showers around mid-morning. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 4 to 5, backing west to southwest 3 to 4 later. Rather rough to rough, locally moderate in the far south of the area, generally decreasing slight with a moderate swell by midday. Isolated showers. Good, perhaps locally moderate.