Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An Atlantic low will move east towards the British Isles, bringing strengthening winds and rain or showers.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later in east. Slight, occasionally smooth at first in south, becoming moderate later. Showers, perhaps thundery at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly 3 to 5, but 5 or 6 at first in east, occasionally 7 at first in northeast, veering southerly or southwesterly later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight, becoming moderate later. Showers, perhaps thundery at first, rain later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 5 or 6, veering south then southwest later, 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally slight later. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers, perhaps thundery in north, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in northeast, veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 or 5, backing southerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later in west. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 or 5, backing southerly, veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in east. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate occasionally rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 4 to 6, veering southwest 5 or 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east, occasionally rough later in west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later near Isles of Scilly. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly backing southerly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 in west, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 2 to 4, backing south, veering southwest later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast, veering south later, 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in north. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest, backing southeast, then veering south later, 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 for a time. Slight, becoming moderate later. Rain for a time, then showers. Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5. Moderate, occasionally rough in the south at first. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in south. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in the North Channel. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in the North Channel. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in the North Channel, veering southwesterly later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in the North Channel. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time later. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 4 to 6, veering south 3 or 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south. Smooth or slight in central areas, slight or moderate near entrances. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, veering south 3 or 4, then southwesterly 5 or 6 later in far south. Smooth or slight at first in central areas, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near southern entrance. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far south. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, veering south 3 or 4, then southwesterly 5 or 6 later in far south. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in south. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5, then 5 or 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight at first in east. Mainly fair. Good occasionally moderate.

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

Valid Monday 18 May 2026 at 1200 UTC until Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Low pressure west of the UK maintains a southeasterly flow over Shetland Waters

Forecast: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southwest later. Moderate, but slight just east of shetland. Mainly fair Good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Tuesday 19 May until 1200 UTC on Tuesday 19 May: Southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 in northeast at first. Moderate, but rough in far west later. Mainly fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southwest 3 to 4, locally variable 1 to 2 in the south of the area at first, backing south 4 to 5 this evening, increasing 5 to 6 with gusts locally to 35kt overnight, veering southwest 4 to 5 later. Smooth to slight with a low swell, increasing slight to moderate overnight, further increasing rather rough in the northwest later. Isolated showers rain spreading eastwards by dusk, locally heavy overnight, clearing to isolated showers around dawn, perhaps locally heavy later. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6, mainly from evening. Slight to moderate but rather rough in the northwest, increasing rough for a time mid-channel overnight, decreasing slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell later. Isolated showers, perhaps locally heavy at first, dying out in the evening occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor at first.