Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Light or moderate winds will cover southern areas of the United Kingdom during Friday. Further north, low pressure moving northeast from 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: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 to 5 later. Rough in north, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth in the Moray Firth. Showers, wintry later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 5. Rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in the Moray Firth. Showers, wintry at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, veering north or northeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally rough at first in north. Showers for a time. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast, backing northwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Rattray Head. Showers then fair, rain at first in far south. Good, occasionally poor at first in far south.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South, becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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 in south. Rain or showers, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South, backing southeast, 2 to 4, then becoming variable later. Smooth or slight. Fair then showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate. Occasional rain or showers, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly, backing easterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly, backing northeasterly, 2 to 4, then increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Occasional rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly, backing easterly, 2 to 4. Smooth occasionally slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly, backing northeasterly, 2 to 4, then increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate. Occasional 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 at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 3 to 5, backing northeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later. Occasional 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 east or northeast 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East, backing northeast, 4 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later near the Isles of Scilly. Rain or showers for a time. Good occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in far west. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later near St Davids Head. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 in west. Smooth or slight, but moderate or rough in west. Rain or showers for a time. Good occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in west. 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 near St Davids Head. Showers for a time. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 4 or 5 later. Smooth occasionally slight. Fair then showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North, veering northeast, 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far southwest. Occasional rain or showers then fair. Good occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north 4 or 5. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 4 or 5, veering northeast 4 to 6. Slight occasionally moderate. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in south. Slight or moderate, but smooth for a time in south. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in the North Channel. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in the North Channel. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first 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 at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing northwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest, veering northwest, 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far northeast, but becoming smooth later in central waters. Showers, wintry later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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 at first. Goo, occasionally moderate at first.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest, veering northwest, 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, but slight between Barra and Canna. Showers, wintry later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4. Moderate, occasionally rough at first, but slight between Barra and Canna. Showers, wintry at first. Goo, occasionally moderate at first.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest, veering west later, 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later. Slight or moderate in sheltered east, otherwise rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest. 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 0600 UTC until Friday 08 May 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Atlantic low near the Faeroes will drift northeast with an associated cold front soon clearing Shetland Waters.

Forecast: South veering west or southwest 5 to 7 Rough, becoming moderate southeast of shetland Rain at first then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Friday 08 May until 0600 UTC on Saturday 09 May: West or southwest 5 to 7 becoming west or northwest 4 to 6. Rough, becoming very rough in northwest, but moderate southeast of shetland, and becoming slight just east of shetland. Showers Good, occasionally moderate.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Southeast 2 to 3, locally variable 1 or 2, becoming east to northeast 3 to 4 during the afternoon, increasing 4 to 5 by evening. Smooth or slight. Risk of showers in the east of the area at first showers, perhaps thundery, in the south of the area after midnight. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 4 to 5, occasionally 3 at first, backing northeast by midday, increasing 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight, increasing slight to moderate in the evening, further increasing rather rough in the north and west later. Showers, perhaps thundery, dying out after midnight. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.