Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A slack airflow covers most of the United Kingdom, with mainly light or moderate winds and showers. However an area of low pressure will approach the far northwest later on Wednesday into Thursday, bringing strengthening south or southwest winds and rain to the northwest.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later in southeast. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Showers, occasional rain later in west. Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in west, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northeast. Smooth or slight at first in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor in northwest.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 3 to 5, veering south or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, then veering southeast later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 or 4, veering south or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly veering northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in far north. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly 3 to 5, veering easterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Mainly fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or 3 at first in west, otherwise northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in west. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate at until later in far east. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming mainly east or southeast later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: North veering east or northeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel

24 hour forecast: North veering east or northeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: North veering east 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6, veering south or southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, veering east or northeast 3 to 5, veering south 3 or 4 later. Mainly slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 2 to 4, increasing 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far northwest. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast, veering southwest later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in south. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic, becoming easterly or southeasterly, veering southerly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in the North Channel. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly 4 or 5, veering southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in east. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 in northwest. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in east, occasionally rough later in west. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight in central areas, moderate near entrances. Showers, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight at first in central areas, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming rough later near entrances. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate. Showers, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate, becoming rough later. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing southwest later, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough at first in north and west, otherwise moderate, but slight to the southeast. Showers, wintry at first. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

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

Valid Tuesday 05 May 2026 at 1800 UTC until Wednesday 06 May 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: A cold and showery northwesterly flow over Shetland Waters will ease tonight.

Forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5 backing westerly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in north. Moderate, occasionally rough in north and west, but slight just southeast of shetland. Showers, occasionally wintry at first. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Wednesday 06 May until 1800 UTC on Wednesday 06 May: Westerly backing southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in north at first. Moderate, occasionally rough in far north at first, but slight just southeast of shetland. Showers Good, occasionally moderate

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: North to northwest 3 to 4, veering northeast by dawn, becoming locally 1 to 3 in the north of the area later. Smooth or slight. Isolated showers, perhaps locally heavy around midnight. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor around midnight.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 3, occasionally 4, veering southeast overnight. Smooth occasionally slight. Isolated showers risk of mist or fog patches near the french coast towards dawn. Good or very good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.