Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
00:00 (UTC) on Fri 8 May 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 9 May 2026
General situation
Southern areas of the United Kingdom will be covered by light or moderate winds. Further north low pressure, moving northeast across the faeroe islands, will give some strong winds. These generally decreasing through Friday, before increasing again across Irish Sea waters.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first near Cape Wrath. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere slight or moderate, becoming rough in north. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Orkney. To the west and north of Orkney, rough becoming moderate, otherwise smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near Rattray Head. Showers, wintry for a time. Good occasionally moderate.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Rattray Head, veering north or northeast 3 or 4 later. Moderate for a time in north, otherwise slight. Showers, fair later. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate later near Rattray Head. Rain or showers for a time in far south. Good, occasionally poor in far south.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair then showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate. Rain or showers, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: South, backing southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight. Fair then showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming northeast 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate, except in far south. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, backing northeasterly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near North Foreland. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth occasionally slight. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 3 to 5, backing northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: Southeast 2 to 4, backing east 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers for a time. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: East, backing northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in east. Rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near the Isles of Scilly. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly, backing northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far west. Smooth at first near lyme bay, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near the Isles of Scilly. Fair then occasional rain or showers. Good occasionally moderate.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5 later in west. Smooth, occasionally slight in far west. Showers then fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in the Bristol Channel, otherwise easterly, backing northeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 in west. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough in west. Rain or showers later near Lands End. Good, occasionally moderate later near Lands End.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers for a time. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time near St Davids Head. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in Cardigan Bay, becoming rough later near St Davids Head. Showers later in south. Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming north or northeast 4 or 5 later. Smooth occasionally slight. Showers for a time. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North, veering northeast, 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in far southwest. Showers for a time. Good.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming north 4 or 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North, veering northeast later, 4 or 5. Slight occasionally moderate. Fair. Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 4 or 5 later. Moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers then fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south. Fair. Good.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in the North Channel. Showers then fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in the North Channel. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in the North Channel. Fair. Good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Tiree, veering north 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far west. Showers for a time. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6, then veering northwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far northeast, but becoming smooth later near central waters. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, but northeast of skye moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northeast. Showers, wintry for a time. Goo, occasionally moderate.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6, then veering northwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight between barra and canna. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight between barra and canna. Showers, wintry for a time. Goo, occasionally moderate.
Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southwest, veering west later, 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later in sheltered east. Showers, occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Friday 08 May 2026 at 0000 UTC until Friday 08 May 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation: Atlantic low near the Faeroes will drift northeast pushing an associated cold front east across Shetland Waters.
Forecast: South or southwest 5 to 7 Rough, becoming moderate southeast of shetland Rain then showers. Good occasionally moderate.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 08 May until 0000 UTC on Saturday 09 May: South or southwest veering west 5 to 7 Rough, becoming very rough in far northwest later, but moderate southeast of shetland. Showers Good, occasionally moderate.
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: East to southeast 2 to 4, locally variable 1 to 2, backing east to northeast 4 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Isolated showers until midday tomorrow risk of mist or fog patches near french coast overnight. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor or very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 4 to 5, decreasing 2 to 4 after midnight. Smooth or slight. Isolated showers after midnight, perhaps locally with thunder. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.