Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure over the North Sea will decline and move away southeast. Meanwhile a shallow area of low pressure to the southwest of Ireland will bring spells of rain and showers to western areas, some of which could be heavy and thundery. This spreads northeast across northern England and Scotland on Friday evening, with further rain or showers expected on Saturday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4. In north, moderate, elsewhere smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair, rain at times later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in far north. Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later west of Orkney. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 3 or less in Firth of Forth and st andrews bay. Moderate becoming slight. Rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South veering southwest, 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then northeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later near Rattray Head. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, veering west or southwest 2 to 4 later. Moderate becoming slight. Rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then north or northeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5, veering west 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north, occasionally smooth in south. Showers later, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, then veering southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Showers later, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly, 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, veering westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers and fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 to 5, veering southwest 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers, fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then east or northeast 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less at first in lyme bay, otherwise south or southwest, 2 to 4. Moderate at first in far west, otherwise smooth or slight. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming east or southeast for a time, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Isles of Scilly. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly at first in north, otherwise southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly at first in west, otherwise variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: East or southeast veering south or southwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less at times in Cardigan Bay. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers at first, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: East or southeast veering south or southwest later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers, fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Southeast, veering south or southwest, 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time. Slight. Showers with fog patches for a time, mainly fair later. Good, occasionally moderate, or very poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4, backing southeast 3 or less later. Slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later in north. Slight or moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable in north, otherwise southwesterly backing southerly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in south. Slight or moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly, veering southerly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less at times in the Firth of Clyde. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable in the Firth of Clyde, otherwise southerly or southeasterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers, rain at times later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: East veering southeast 3 to 5, veering southwest 3 or 4 later, but becoming variable 3 or less later in south. Slight or moderate, but smooth at times in sheltered east. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4 at first in north, otherwise variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate, but smooth at times in sheltered east. Showers. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, veering northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances, becoming moderate later north of skye. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Moderate, occasionally slight near Ardnamurchan Point. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times later. Moderate, occasionally slight near Ardnamurchan Point, occasionally moderate later. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, veering westerly or northwesterly 2 or 3 later, occasionally 4 later in north. Rough at first in south, otherwise moderate, becoming slight later in sheltered east. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

Valid Friday 01 May 2026 at 0000 UTC until Friday 01 May 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: High pressure centred in the southern North Sea declines southeast as a weak weather front crosses Shetland Waters through Friday.

Forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later Moderate, occasionally rough at first Fair, rain at times later Good, occasionally moderate later

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 01 May until 0000 UTC on Saturday 02 May: South or southwest veering west or northwest, 3 or 4 Moderate, becoming slight east of shetland Rain at times Moderate or good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: South to southeast 2 to 3, locally 4, veering west to southwest overnight, becoming variable 1 to 3 later. Slight or smooth. Drizzle, mist and fog spreading east soon after midnight, clearing by midday. Moderate to good, becoming moderate to poor locally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 1 to 3, becoming east 2 to 4 after midnight, veering south later. Smooth or slight with a low swell. Mist and fog patches on Saturday from morning, isolated showers and rain later. Moderate to good, locally poor or very poor.