Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
18:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Nov 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Nov 2026
General situation
A low over Scandinavia will continue to move away eastwards today, as an Atlantic high approaches the United Kingdom from the northwest. A strong and mainly northerly air flow affects many of the inshore waters, especially those in the east, with gales at first in northern Scotland and showers affecting windward North Sea coasts. The area of high pressure will continue to move southeastwards across England on Saturday bringing a spell of fair weather and lighter winds.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6, then southwest 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, north and west of Orkney and slight or moderate in Moray Firth, elsewhere moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and west, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, to the north and west of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere slight or moderate. Squally showers, rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 5 or 6 later. Slight in Firth of Forth, otherwise moderate or rough becoming slight to moderate later. Showers, squally at first, mainly fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 or 6, backing west 4 or 5 later. Rough becoming moderate later. Showers at first. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 or 6. Moderate becoming slight later. Fair. Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first offshore, backing west 4 or 5 later. Rough becoming moderate later. Showers at first. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate becoming slight later. Fair. Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, backing west 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight in Thames estuary, elsewhere moderate, occasionally rough at first and slight later. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth in Thames estuary, elsewhere slight, but moderate at first in north. Fair. Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northerly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight later. Mainly fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 2 or 3, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeasterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: North or northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 2 or 3, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: East or northeast 5 or 6, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Rough at first west of the Isles of Scilly, otherwise slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 2 or 3, veering south or southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight, to the west of the Lizard peninsula, elsewhere smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel
24 hour forecast: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then east or southeast 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight in Bristol Channel, elsewhere slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, veering southerly 4 or 5 later in west. Smooth or slight in Bristol Channel, otherwise slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight later. Showers later. Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel
24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later. Showers. Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway
24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, backing west 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first north and west of Anglesey. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Good.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: North 4 or 5, backing northwest 3 or 4, backing west later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Fair at first, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 or 4, increasing southwest 5 or 6, backing south or southwest later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northerly 5 or 6, backing northwesterly 3 to 5, then southwesterly later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth, in North Channel, elsewhere smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: North 5 or 6, backing west or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight east of islay, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly backing southwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 in north later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of islay. Showers, rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: North 5 or 6, backing west 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough in north and slight or moderate in south. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 or 6, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances. Showers, turning squally, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: North 5 or 6, backing west 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 or 6, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough offshore from Cape Wrath. Showers, turning squally, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: North 6 or 7, backing northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less later, then west or southwest 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough becoming moderate, occasionally slight, later. Occasional rain or showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland - Strong wind warning
Valid Thursday 12 Nov 2026 at 1800 UTC until Friday 13 Nov 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation: Low over southern Scandinavia edges away east with a high moving SE towards Ireland extending a ridge across Shetland waters on Friday.
Forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in southeast, occasionally 4 later in west Very rough, but rough in sheltered eastern and southern waters, becoming mainly rough Wintry showers Good, occasionally poor
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 13 Nov until 1800 UTC on Friday 13 Nov: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east backing southwesterly 3 or 4 Moderate or rough, but slight in well sheltered southern and eastern waters Rain or showers Moderate or good
Channel Islands - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northeast 5 to 6, decreasing 4 to 5 by midnight, then 3 to 4 by dawn. Slight to moderate occasionally rather rough in the far northwest today, decreasing smooth to slight tomorrow. Patchy light rain or isolated showers in the south of the area at first. Good, locally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast to east 3 to 4, locally 2 at times, veering southeast by midnight, locally 5 on Saturday morning. Smooth to slight. Fair or fine. Good or very good.