Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The United Kingdom currently lies in a strong southwesterly airflow, with gales or severe gales affecting most areas. An area of locally very heavy rain will continue to move southeastwards across England and Wales, while Scotland and Northern Ireland will have squally showers, which will be wintry at times.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Rough or very rough to the west and north of Orkney and slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Squally showers, wintry at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Squally showers, wintry at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, then decreasing 4 at times later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south. Showers, squally at first and wintry at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south. Showers, wintry at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time. Moderate, becoming slight later. Rain then showers, wintry at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6 veering west 3 to 5, then backing southwest again later. Slight, occasionally smooth. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 6 to gale 8 veering west or southwest 4 to 6, then occasionally 7 again later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6 veering northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, then occasionally 7 again later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 veering northwesterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth. Showers. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8 veering west 4 to 6. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6 veering northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8 veering west 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate in east. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West veering northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing west 3 to 5 later. Very rough at first to the west of Land's End, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming slight or moderate in east. Showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later. Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 to 7 veering northwest 3 to 5, then backing west again later. Very rough at first near Land's End, otherwise moderate or rough in west and slight or moderate in east. Showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6 veering northwest 3 to 5, then backing southwest later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, then decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north and slight at first in south. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest veering northwest, 4 to 6, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate becoming slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later. Rough, becoming moderate later. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West veering northwest 4 to 6, backing west or southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, then veering west 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough in far north, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough in far north, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate to the north and east of Arran. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the north and east of Arran. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering west 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later. High until later in west, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming moderate or rough in east. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east. Showers, squally at first and wintry at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then veering west and decreasing 5 at times. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west and south but slight just east and north of Skye. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough in far north, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers, squally at first and wintry at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then veering west and decreasing 5 at times. Very rough or high to the west of the Outer Hebrides, and also at first between Barra and Canna, otherwise rough or very rough. Squally wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first to the west of the Outer Hebrides but becoming moderate or rough further east. Showers, squally at first and wintry at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Very rough or high at first in west, otherwise mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in northeast. Squally showers, becoming wintry at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Thursday 12 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC until Friday 13 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: A low near Iceland will maintain a strong to gale force southwesterly flow over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southwest 6 to gale 8 Very rough or high, but rough just east of Shetland Squally wintry showers Good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 13 Mar until 1800 UTC on Friday 13 Mar: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first Very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest, but rough just east of Shetland Showers, wintry at first Good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southwest 6 to 7 locally with gusts to 45kt, occasionally 5 in the southeast of the area, veering west 4 to 5 by dawn, and gusty near showers. Moderate to rather rough, increasing rather rough to rough, occasionally very rough in the north and west overnight, moderating later. Widespread rain spreading eastwards from dusk, occasionally heavy, clearing to showers soon after dawn, locally heavy with hail later, more especially later. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor overnight.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 5, and gusty near showers, veering northwest overnight, decreasing 3 to 4 later. Moderate decreasing slight with a low to moderate swell. Occasional showers, locally heavy with a risk of hail, dying out after dawn, then patchy rain in the afternoon. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor at times.