Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Generally unsettled with a brisk and showery southwesterly flow affecting northern waters and low pressure moving northeastwards across southern England through Friday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first to the north and west of Orkney, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Rough or very rough to the north and west of Orkney, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly backing southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. To the north and west of Orkney, rough, occasionally very rough at first, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south. Showers becoming fair, then occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering north or northwest, 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 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers at first, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering north or northeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near Whitby. Occasional rain near Whitby, showers elsewhere. Good, occasionally moderate near Whitby.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly becoming variable 2 to 4, then northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in south. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 5 or 6, backing west 2 to 4, then south 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at first, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in southeast and also later in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, becoming south or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in south. Occasional rain at first, then showers, then becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time, then veering westerly later. Moderate or rough. Rain at times then showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 5 or 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Rain or showers, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 6 decreasing 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough. Rain at times, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west southwest then backing southwest, then increasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Showers, becoming fair for a time. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, then west or northwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate for a time in lyme bay. Occasional rain, then showers for a time. Good occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming mainly northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west, backing northwesterly later. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly backing westerly, 2 to 4, then backing southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Rain at first, then showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less at first in north, otherwise northerly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near St Davids Head. Rain at times, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North backing south or southwest, 2 to 4, then increasing 5 or 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near St Davids Head. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: West 2 to 4, veering north or northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain in south. Good, occasionally moderate in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4, backing south or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers, then occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 or 4, veering northwest 4 or 5, decreasing variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate in the south. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, settling south or southwest 4 to 6. Slight becoming moderate. Mainly fair at first, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate .

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: West veering north or northwest, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 or 4, backing south or southwest 5 or 6. Moderate or rough in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly veering northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth later in Firth of Clyde. Showers until later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming south 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 to 5 for a time later. Smooth or slight, but moderate in North Channel. Showers, then occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Westerly veering northerly or northwesterly, then backing southerly or southwesterly later, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Tiree. Showers until later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 2 to 4, backing southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in eastern shelter. Showers, then occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far north. Rough or very rough. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough elsewhere. Rain or showers, perhaps wintry later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Friday 27 Feb 2026 at 0600 UTC until Friday 27 Feb 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: A trough moves eastwards over Shetland Waters at frist Friday with a ridge of high pressure building later.

Forecast: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in the west and moderate just to the east of shetland. Wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Friday 27 Feb until 0600 UTC on Saturday 28 Feb: West or southwest 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in the west at first and moderate just to the east of shetland. Wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southwest 5 to 6, perhaps occasionally 7 mid-channel, decreasing 4 to 5 by mid-morning, veering west to northwest 5 to 6, perhaps occasionally 7, later. Generally slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell, locally rather rough to rough in the north and west. Rain, drizzle and mist, clearing to showers by midday. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 5 to 6, decreasing 3 to 4 by midday Saturday, backing west to southwest by dusk, then southwest to south 4 to 5 later. Slight to moderate with a low swell, locally rough in the north at first, generally decreasing smooth or slight with a low to moderate swell later. Isolated showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.