Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A low pressure over the channel will move northeast across England and into the North Sea today bringing rain, while a strong showery southwesterly flow affects the northwest. Then a band of rain and strong southerly winds will move east across the British Isles tomorrow, bringing gales for a time in the north and west.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly, backing southerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest. In southeast slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in inner Moray Firth, but rough or very rough in northwest. Showers in northwest, perhaps thundery, rain later in northwest. Good, occasionally poor in northwest.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time. Moderate or rough, but smooth or slight in inner Moray Firth and very rough later in northwest. Rain at first, then showers in northwest. Good occasionally poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 5 or 6 later. Slight, occasionally moderate in northeast and smooth in southwest. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southwest, becoming rough for a time in northeast. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 2 to 4, backing south 5 or 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast. Rain for a time, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming northwest, 3 to 5, then southwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Rain at first. Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 6 or 7, veering southwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northeast. Rain for a time, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering northwesterly, 3 to 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, backing southerly 5 to 7. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in east. Mainly fair then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 or 5, veering northwesterly 3 to 5, backing westerly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Occasional rain, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 2 to 4, backing southwesterly 5 to 7. Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough. Mainly fair then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming northwest, 4 or 5, backing southwest 2 to 4 later. Moderate becoming slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 2 to 4, increasing 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Slight becoming moderate, then rough later. Mainly fair then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, backing west 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, but rough west of the Lizard. Showers, rain later in west. Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, but slight at first in lyme bay, becoming rough or very rough, then moderate later in lyme bay. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, backing west 2 to 4, then southwest 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, but smooth or slight in east. Showers, rain later in west. Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, but slight, occasionally smooth at first, in east, becoming very rough in west. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in northeast, becoming rough later in west. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in northeast and very rough in west. Rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest 5 to 7. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then rough in northwest. Showers, fog patches at first in Solway Firth, rain later. Good, occasionally very poor at first in Solway Firth and moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale8 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, but rough until later in northwest. Rain, showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 or 4, backing southwest, then gradually increasing south or southwest 7 or gale 8 later. Slight, building moderate or rough later. Fair, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 7 or gale 8, decreasing 6 or 7, then veering west or southwest 4 or 5. Rough, possibly very rough, falling slight or moderate later. Rain and drizzle, becoming fair later. Moderate or poor, good later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5 backing south 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough in north, elsewhere smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in southeast and later in northwest. Rain or drizzle then showers. 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 or southwesterly 2 to 4, backing southerly 6 to gale 8. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time, occasionally very rough in North Channel. Rain or drizzle then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 7 to severe gale 9. Rough or very rough, but moderate in sheltered southeast. Showers, thundery at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 5 to 7. Rough or very rough, but moderate in sheltered southeast, becoming very rough or high later. Rain then squally showers. Good occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 7 to severe gale 9. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in central area, becoming rough or very rough later. Showers, thundery at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 6 or 7. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate in central area. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 7 to severe gale 9. Very rough occasionally rough. Showers, thundery at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 6 or 7. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 or 6 backing south 6 or 7. Rough or very rough, but moderate in east. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

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

Valid Tuesday 16 Dec 2025 at 0600 UTC until Tuesday 16 Dec 2025 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Complex low to the south of Iceland maintains a showery southwesterly flow across Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southwest 5 or 6. Rough or very rough, but moderate to east of shetland. Showers Good occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Tuesday 16 Dec until 0600 UTC on Wednesday 17 Dec: Southwest 6 or 7, occasionally 5 at first. Rough or very rough, but moderate in lee shelter east of shetland Showers Good occasionally moderate

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northwest to north 3 to 4, perhaps occasionally 5 mid channel until midday, veering northwest to north 2 to 3 by late evening, backing southwest 3 to 4 later. Slight to moderate, decreasing smooth or slight later, with a low to moderate swell. Occasional rain risk of mist patches at first and later, mainly near french coasts. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 4 increasing 4 to 5, occasionally 6 in the north, by midday, backing south 6 to 7 by midnight. Smooth or slight with a low to moderate swell, increasing rather rough to rough, locally very rough mid-channel. Occasional rain or drizzle from Wednesday afternoon. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.