Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Low pressure centred to the northwest of the United Kingdom will continue to bring strong winds with rain and showers today and tomorrow. High pressure will then start to build in from the southeast, with lighter winds and more settled conditions towards the southeast by Thursday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first in east. Rain or showers, fog patches in far northeast. Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor in far northeast.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth in Moray Firth. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor later.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, but 6 at first in far northeast, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first in south. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate becoming slight, then smooth later in Firth of Forth. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South veering southwest later, 3 to 5. Moderate becoming slight. Showers, thundery at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, backing south for a time, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South 4 or 5, veering southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Showers, thundery at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing south, 3 to 5, veering southwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth in the wash and Thames estuary. Showers, thundery at first in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair, occasional rain later in north. Good, occasionally moderate later in north.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in south. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 3 or 4, then southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first in far west. Mainly fair, fog patches for a time. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally very poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in the Bristol Channel. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, backing southeasterly later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first in far west. Occasional rain or drizzle. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches. Good, becoming moderate occasionally very poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery at first in northwest. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches in later northwest. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor, then very poor later in northwest.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in the north for a time. Moderate occasionally rough in the south at first, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain or showers, then mainly fair. Moderate, occasionally poor, becoming good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate. Mainly fair, then rain, and mist and fog patches developing. Good, occasionally very poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in southeast, veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in southeast. Slight or moderate. Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly veering southwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate at first to the south of the isle of arran. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in the North Channel. Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 3 or 4, veering southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first in south. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 or 4 for a time. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, veering southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in central areas at first. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 or 4 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far south, becoming smooth or slight later in central areas. Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, veering southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 or 4 for a time. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later. Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5, then 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor later.

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

Valid Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 1800 UTC until Wednesday 20 May 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Atlantic low will be slow moving to the northwest of Scotland. Strong southeasterly flow will cover Shetland Waters with a frontal system moving northeast Tuesday evening, clearing early Wednesday.

Forecast: Southeast 5 to 7 Mainly rough, but moderate in lee shelter of shetland Rain at times Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Wednesday 20 May until 1800 UTC on Wednesday 20 May: Southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later Rough becoming mainly moderate Rain at times, fog patches Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 5, locally 6 in the northwest of the area, locally 3 in the southeast of the area, generally becoming west to northwest 2 to 4 tomorrow afternoon. Rather rough to rough, in the northwest of the area, otherwise slight to moderate with a low swell, generally becoming smooth to slight with a moderate swell later. Isolated showers this evening patchy rain and drizzle spreading in from the west after midnight, clearing eastward around midday. Good, locally moderate or poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 in the far north of the area at first, otherwise variable 1 to 3, becoming south to southeast 2 to 3 overnight. Smooth to slight with a moderate swell, decreasing to a low swell by dawn Thursday. A risk of mist or fog patches until early afternoon, mainly in the far east overnight, then mainly in the far west. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor at times.