Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Fronts will become confined to the southeast of the United Kingdom where they will also become slow-moving, with another Atlantic front moving eastwards across the inshore waters later on Wednesday and into Thursday, on a mainly westerly or southwesterly airflow.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west 5 to 7 for a time. Moderate or rough in north, slight or moderate in south. Showers, wintry at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 5 to 7 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north and later elsewhere except in Moray Firth. Showers then occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 3 to 5 backing southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 5 to 7 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate becoming mainly slight. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 4 to 6. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South veering west, 4 or 5, backing southwest 3 or 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in south and moderate in north. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 for a time. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in east. Rain at times, becoming mainly fair in north. Good, occasionally poor in south and also at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate at times in east. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6 veering northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, then easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4 veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight, becoming moderate later. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6 veering north 3 to 5, then east 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 3 or 4 veering south or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate occasionally rough, becoming slight or moderate in east. Occasional rain, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 for a time. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic mainly northerly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 3 to 5 later in west. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough at first in west. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 veering southwesterly 4 to 6, then becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west. Fair then rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, backing west 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South veering southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in west. Fair then rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight, occasionally moderate except in far south. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time in north, occasionally gale 8 near Mull of Galloway. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest. Fair then rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5, backing south or southwest later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 or 6 increasing 6 or 7, veering southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West backing southwest, then south later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 or 6 increasing 7 or gale 8, then veering southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east and in far north. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly, backing southerly or southwesterly later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 4 to 6 increasing 7 or gale 8, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in northwest. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate to the east of islay and jura. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 6 to gale 8, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight to the east of islay and jura and very rough in northwest. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in south. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far southwest. Showers, perhaps wintry at times, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in central areas. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough to the west of the Outer Hebrides. Showers, perhaps wintry at times, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6. Mainly moderate or rough in far north, otherwise rough or very rough. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland

Valid Tuesday 13 Jan 2026 at 1200 UTC until Wednesday 14 Jan 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: A developing low tracks northeast into the North Sea then southern Norwegian Sea during Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday.

Forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far northeast. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Wednesday 14 Jan until 1200 UTC on Wednesday 14 Jan: Westerly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first in north. Rough, occasionally moderate in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: South 3 to 4, locally 5 mid-channel at first, becoming northeast 3 to 5 in the north of the area overnight, locally variable 1 to 2 guernsey southwards at times. Moderate to rather rough in the north at first, otherwise smooth to slight with a low swell. Occasional rain and drizzle, mainly in the north and west, with mist and a risk of fog patches. Moderate to good, occasionally poor, perhaps locally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 3 to 4 mid-channel at first, otherwise south to southwest 3 to 4, veering southwest 5 to 6 by midnight, backing south 5 to 7 later. Smooth to slight with a low swell, increasing moderate to rather rough later. Patchy rain and drizzle, mainly in the north and the west, becoming widespread and locally heavy overnight. Moderate to good, occasionally poor.