Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Low pressure to the northwest of the United Kingdom will bring a moderate to strong southerly or southwesterly airflow with rain or showers and gales continuing at first in the northwest. Towards the southeast winds will be light or moderate with fair conditions. High pressure builds into Thursday, bringing lighter winds and more settled conditions.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north and smooth in Moray Firth. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 2 to 4, backing south 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth and rough at first in north. Showers, rain for a time in far southeast. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: South or southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain, fair later. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

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

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, backing easterly 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good becoming moderate later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 or 4, backing easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Fair. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good becoming moderate later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 or 4, backing east or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Mainly fair. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Fair. Good occasionally moderate.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: East 3 to 5. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east, becoming smooth in the inner Bristol Channel. Mainly fair. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Slight or moderate, but rough at first in far southwest and smooth in the inner Bristol Channel. Fair. Good occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southeast becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Moderate or good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Southeast backing northeast, then becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at times in north, otherwise mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in far north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle at first, then mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate or poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northwest, 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Occasional rain or drizzle at first in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly northerly later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in North Channel. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, mainly northerly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Southwest becoming variable, then north later, 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Rain or drizzle, then showers for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North becoming variable, 2 to 4. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east. Occasional rain or drizzle at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, but rough near entrances at first, occasionally smooth later in central areas. Showers. Good occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming south or southwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, but moderate near entrances. Showers at first. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 2 to 4 later. Rough or very rough, becoming rough later. Showers. Good occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming south or southwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough. Showers at first. Good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

Valid Wednesday 18 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC until Wednesday 18 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Strong southwesterly flow covers Shetland Waters, easing during Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Forecast: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northwest Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest. becoming moderate east of shetland. Showers at first, otherwise fair Mainly fair

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Wednesday 18 Mar until 0600 UTC on Thursday 19 Mar: Southwest veering west 4 or 5 Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northwest Fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6 in the north and west of the area later. Smooth or slight with a low swell, increasing to moderate mid-channel in the afternoon. Fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 4 to 5, perhaps 3 to 4 later. Slight to moderate at first, becoming smooth to slight with a low swell. Fine. Good or very good.