Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of low pressure moving northwards across the North Sea will bring gale force winds to some eastern areas for a time tonight and on Thursday. Then during Thursday night and Friday a deep area of low pressure will move eastwards across the English Channel, bringing storm force winds to the southwest.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near Rattray Head, backing west 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming northwest 5 later near Aberdeenshire. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere mainly slight or moderate, but rough at first near northern Orkney. Showers, then rain later in east. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 6 to gale 8 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later in north. Occasional rain, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, veering west or northwest 5 to 7 for a time. Moderate becoming slight. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, then northwest 6 to gale 8 later. Slight becoming moderate. Fair then rain. Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southwest 4 or 5. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4 backing southeast 4 to 6, veering northwest 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair then rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Rain or squally thundery showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 2 to 4 backing southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later, then becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in far north and moderate or rough elsewhere. Fair then rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Squally thundery showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 or 4 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, then northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later. Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough. Fair then rain or squally thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing south 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Squally thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9 later. Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough. Rain or squally thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later, then backing south 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough. Squally thundery showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 then northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in west, decreasing 6 or 7 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in east but very rough or high in west. Rain or squally thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing south or southeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east. Squally thundery showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 then northwest gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 6 or 7 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high for a time in west. Rain or squally thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest veering northwest, 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Squally showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 to 5 backing northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later. Rain, then showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5, backing south 3 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight. Occasional rain then showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 backing north 4 to 6, then northwest 6 to gale 8 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate, then becoming rough later except in far north. Fair then rain. Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4, then backing south later. Moderate or rough becoming slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 or 4 backing north or northeast 5 or 6, then northwest 6 to gale 8 later. Slight, becoming moderate or rough. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 to 6 backing southwest 3 or 4, then backing south later. In far north rough becoming moderate, but elsewhere slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwest 6 to gale 8 later. Smooth or slight at first except in far north, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7 backing westerly 3 to 5, then southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in North Channel, becoming smooth or slight later. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in North Channel. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6 backing west 3 to 5, then backing southwest later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in south. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in central areas. Rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwesterly 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in east. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Wednesday 21 Oct 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 22 Oct 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Low over Scotland tracking north across Shetland early Thursday.

Forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northeast, then becoming cyclonic later Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northeast Rain then showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 22 Oct until 1800 UTC on Thursday 22 Oct: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northwest 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southeast Showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 6 to 7, backing southwest this evening, veering west 5 to 6 by morning, backing southwest 4 to 5 by midday and south 6 later. Rough to very rough, decreasing rather rough to rough by midnight, locally moderate later. Squally showers, perhaps thundery, merging into widespread rain for a time tonight. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 6, increasing 7 to gale 8 by midnight, perhaps locally severe gale 9 during the early hours, then veering northwest severe gale 9 with gusts to 65kt by dawn, locally storm 10, decreasing 7 later. Moderate to rough, increasing very rough to high overnight, locally very high later. Squally showers, perhaps thundery, merging into widespread rain at times. Moderate or poor, locally good.