Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of low pressure will move towards the United Kingdom backing the flow to a southeasterly. An Atlantic front will continue to affect southwestern areas through Saturday afternoon and slowly drift east and north bringing some rain or showers to many places over the weekend. Winds will be strong at times in the west, with a risk of gales.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly backing southeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north and smooth in Moray Firth. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough to the north and west of Orkney. Showers then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly, backing southeasterly, then backing easterly later in south, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in Firth of Forth. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally slight in south, becoming moderate or rough later. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South backing southeast, 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South backing southeast, 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly, 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair then occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 or 3, increasing 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time near Selsey Bill. Slight, occasionally moderate in west. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6 for a time. Slight, occasionally moderate in west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far west, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough later in west. Showers, then rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Moderate occasionally slight. Showers then rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly for a time, 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in west. Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west. Showers, perhaps squally, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 or 4. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west, becoming slight or moderate except in far west. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, decreasing 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west. Showers, perhaps squally, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 3 to 5, backing easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough at first near Lands End. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southeast, backing east later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Slight or moderate to the east of Anglesey, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first near St Davids Head. Showers, perhaps squally, rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast backing east or northeast for a time, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near St Davids Head, becoming smooth or slight later in north. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near Mull of Galloway, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest. Showers, then rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast backing east or northeast for a time, 4 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight except near Mull of Galloway. Showers or rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair, then rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 or 5, backing east. Slight or moderate. Fair, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later in east. Showers, then rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast backing east for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6. Moderate or rough in north, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in North Channel. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in North Channel. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly backing easterly for a time, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in North Channel, becoming smooth or slight except in North Channel. Showers. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in southwest. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east and very rough at first in west, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Moderate or good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly, 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 until later in south. Slight or moderate, but rough or very rough in southwest. Showers in south. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5. Smooth or slight in central areas, otherwise moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly, 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 until later in south. Mainly moderate or rough in northeast and between barra and canna, otherwise rough or very rough. Showers in south. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5. Rough or very rough at first west of the Outer Hebrides, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers. Good.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in shelter in northeast. Mainly fair. Good.

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

Valid Saturday 20 Dec 2025 at 1200 UTC until Sunday 21 Dec 2025 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Ridge declines as an Atlantic low pressure system moves towards Iceland on Saturday.

Forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5 Moderate or rough, but slight in lee shelter of shetland Mainly fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Sunday 21 Dec until 1200 UTC on Sunday 21 Dec: Southeast 4 or 5 Moderate or rough, increasing very rough in the far west later. Mainly fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 5 to 6, veering south 4 to 5 by midnight, then backing southeast by dawn. Slight to moderate, with a low to moderate swell throughout. Risk of mist patches near the french coasts at first patchy rain or showers from mid-afternoon. Good, locally moderate or perhaps poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast to east 4 to 5, decreasing 3 to 4 by dusk. Smooth to slight, with a low to moderate swell throughout. Showers, locally heavy with a risk of hail mist patches likely, especially near the french coast. Good, locally moderate or poor at times.