Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An unsettled spell of weather will affect the inshore waters over the next 48 hours, with rain and showers at times. Strong southerly or southeasterly winds will continue across northern Scotland and the southwest at first, extending to eastern areas tomorrow as areas of low pressure approach from the south and then from the west. A further spell of strong winds will then develop in western and southern areas later on Tuesday into Wednesday, with a risk of gales in the southwest.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later except in Moray Firth. Slight or moderate, but rough in northwest and later in east, smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Showers, occasional rain later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 to 7, but 3 to 5 at first in Moray Firth, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, but smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate in Moray Firth. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, but easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 in Firth of Forth. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, occasional rain later in south. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times in far north, veering westerly later. Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later in south. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East 4 or 5, veering southeast 4 to 6. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, rain later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough becoming moderate, occasionally slight later in south. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight at first in far south, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 or 6, veering south or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly 3 to 5, veering southeasterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time in northeast. Showers, occasional rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair then rain, showers later. Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East backing north 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Slight, but smooth or slight in lyme bay, occasionally moderate later in east. Fair then rain, showers later. Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming west 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later, increasing 5 or 6 later in west. Slight or moderate in west, slight in east, and smooth or slight in lyme bay. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic then westerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in lyme bay, becoming moderate or rough. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 4 to 6 later in west. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in the Bristol Channel. Showers, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight at first in the Bristol Channel, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near St Davids Head, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate near St Davids Head. Showers, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 5 to 7, backing westerly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, then rough for a time later in south. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers then rain. Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4, then northwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5, veering south or southeast later. Slight. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then west or northwest 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later. Occasional rain.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far north. Slight, but slight or moderate in north. Showers, occasional rain later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 5 to 7. Slight occasionally smooth at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in north. Occasional rain, squally showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly veering southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 for a time later in the North Channel. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Showers, rain later. Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in the North Channel. Rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, occasional rain later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 5 to 7. Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east. Occasional rain, squally showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, but 3 or 4 at first in north. Smooth or slight in central areas, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate later in central areas, otherwise moderate occasionally rough. Rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly backing southeasterly, 4 to 6. Rough or very rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 to 6, veering southeast 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, but rough or very rough at first in west. Mainly fair, then occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

Valid Monday 19 Oct 2026 at 1800 UTC until Tuesday 20 Oct 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: High pressure building over Scandinavia will extend a ridge west over Shetland waters later Monday into Tuesday.

Forecast: South or southeast 5 or 6 Rough or very rough, moderate in lee shelter of shetland Mainly fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Tuesday 20 Oct until 1800 UTC on Tuesday 20 Oct: South or southeast 5 or 6, increasing 7 later. Rough, occasionally very rough in the west. Rain and drizzle at times Good occasionally moderate.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East 2 to 4, locally variable 1 to 2, backing northwest 4 to 5 by dawn, perhaps locally 6 mid-channel, backing southwest later. Smooth or slight with a low swell. Patchy rain from midnight. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 5, backing south 5 to 6 by midnight, veering west 6 to 7 by dawn. Smooth or slight with a low swell, increasing slight to moderate by midnight, then rough to very rough by dawn. Patchy rain at first, mainly in the east then rain, locally heavy, by midnight, clearing to heavy showers by dawn, with a risk of thunder. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.