Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A transient ridge of high pressure will move eastwards tonight and tomorrow, bringing a showery northwesterly airflow with strong winds continuing in many areas at first. A deep Atlantic low will then move in towards the northwest of the British Isles later tomorrow into Thursday, bringing rain, showers and gales to northwestern areas, with rain and strong winds then extending southeastwards.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly 3 or 4 later, then southerly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough to the north and west of Orkney, otherwise slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Showers, rain later. Good occasionally poor at first, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in west. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later to the north and west of Orkney, otherwise slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in Moray Firth. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate in east, but smooth or slight in west. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, veering southwest 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight becoming slight in Firth of Forth. Rain then showers. Moderate or good occasionally poor, becoming good occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: West veering northwest 4 or 5 , becoming variable 2 or 3, then south or southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: West veering northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, becoming moderate in north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate for a time in northeast. Showers, perhaps thundery for a time in northeast. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor in northeast.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight in the wash and the Thames estuary, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Westerly at first in east, otherwise northwesterly backing westerly later, 3 to 5,. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair, showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 5 or 6 for a time. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, decreasing 3 or 4, backing westerly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, but slight in lyme bay. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 for a time. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, backing westerly 3 to 5 later. Slight in lyme bay, otherwise slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough west of the Lizard peninsula. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in west and 3 in east. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough until later in southwest. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 4 to 6. Moderate, but slight or moderate in the Bristol Channel and moderate or rough in southwest. Occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good occasionally poor, becoming good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate , becoming smooth or slight later in far north. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering westerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time in north. Smooth or slight at first in far north, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate later. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good occasionally poor, becoming good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5 occasionally 6 at first, backing southwest later. Slight or moderate. Showers, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, then veering west 5 or 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate. Rain, clearing to showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in far northwest, then becoming slight later in south. Showers, rain later. Good occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in northwest. Slight or moderate in south, moderate or rough in north, becoming rough or very rough in northwest. Rain then showers. Moderate or 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: Northwesterly 3 to 5, but 5 or 6 at first in the North Channel, backing southwesterly later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate at first in the North Channel. Showers, rain later. Good occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then rough later near Mull of Kintyre. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west. Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate in central areas, moderate occasionally rough elsewhere. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly, then westerly later, 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate becoming moderate in central areas, otherwise moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 6 or 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in far west. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly, then westerly later, 6 to gale 8. Rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later in west. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, backing southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, but slight at times in eastern shelter. Showers until later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Valid Tuesday 15 Sep 2026 at 1800 UTC until Wednesday 16 Sep 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Small developing low over Shetland Waters at first will move east later with a ridge building from the west through Wednesday.

Forecast: Northwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 7 in the north for a time. Moderate, soon becoming mainly rough. Showers Moderate or good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Wednesday 16 Sep until 1800 UTC on Wednesday 16 Sep: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough Mainly fair Good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 5, decreasing 3 to 4 by dawn. Slight to moderate, with a low swell. Isolated showers overnight, perhaps heavy. Good or very good, locally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 3 to 4, backing west to southwest 4 to 5 by dawn, occasionally 6, veering west to northwest later. Slight to moderate with a low swell, occasionally rather rough, mainly in the north of the area after dawn Thursday. Isolated showers, merging into rain and drizzle overnight, locally heavy later. Good or very good, locally moderate, becoming generally moderate to poor for a time.