Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A cold front will move eastwards across the United Kingdom during Wednesday night and Thursday morning. This will bring an interval of rain and strong winds to all areas, with a risk of gales for a time near northwestern Scotland.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly 3 or 4 increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in north, then veering southwesterly 5 to 7. To the west and north of Orkney, moderate or rough, becoming very rough later, elsewhere mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in inner Moray Firth. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southerly 4 or 5 later. To the west and north of Orkney, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later, elsewhere mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in inner Moray Firth. Squally showers, then rain later. Moderate or good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly at first in north, otherwise southwesterly, 4 increasing 5 or 6, then increasing 7 at times later. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Firth of Forth. Occasional rain, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first and 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or 4 becoming south or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 to 7 backing southwest 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 or 4 increasing 5 or 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate in north. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then veering westerly again later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate except in Thames Estuary and The Wash. Showers, then rain for a time later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly, backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate except in Thames Estuary and The Wash. Mainly fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 increasing 4 to 6, then veering northwesterly later in west. Slight or moderate. Showers, then rain for a time later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 5 or 6 for a time. Slight or moderate. Showers, then rain for a time later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5 backing west 3 or 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Showers for a time. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 or 4 backing southwest 4 to 6, then veering northwest again later. Moderate or rough from Land's End westwards, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers, then rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6 backing west 3 or 4, then southwest 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough from Lizard Point westwards, elsewhere mainly slight or moderate, but occasionally smooth in Lyme Bay. Showers, mainly at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 increasing 5 or 6, then veering west or northwest 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough in west and slight in east. Showers, then rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southwest 5 or 6 later. Moderate, occasionally rough in west and slight in east. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6. Moderate in south, slight or moderate in north. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6 backing southwest 4 or 5, then increasing 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6 veering west 5 to 7. Slight becoming moderate. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West, backing southwest later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate, becoming rough later except in Liverpool Bay. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5 increasing 6 or 7, then veering west 5 or 6, occasionally 7 again later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate. Fair then rain, then showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 or 6 backing southwest 4 or 5, then increasing 6 or 7 later. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. In far north, moderate becoming rough or very rough, but elsewhere smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain then showers, becoming squally in north. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly backing southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north and later in south. In far north, very rough becoming rough, but elsewhere, slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first, veering westerly 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near the Mull of Kintyre. Rain then showers, becoming squally. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 5 to 7 backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then occasionally 7 again later. Mainly slight or moderate, but occasionally rough near the Mull of Kintyre, and later also near the Mull of Galloway. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest veering west, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, increasing gale 8 at times later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high in west. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then backing south or southwest 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east and high at first in west. Showers, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then veering west 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west and south. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 6 to gale 8 backing south or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough until later in west and south, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, squally at first, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then veering west 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high later to the west of the Outer Hebrides. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 6 to gale 8 backing south or southwest 5 or 6. High at first to the west of the Outer Hebrides, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east. Showers, squally at first, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4 backing south 5 to 7, then veering southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate until later in east, otherwise moderate or rough. Fair then rain then showers, becoming squally later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

Valid Wednesday 16 Sep 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 17 Sep 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Atlantic frontal system will move east on Wednesday evening followed by a showery southwesterly airstream on Thursday.

Forecast: Southerly veering southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in the west then north. Moderate, but rough at times in the west. Rain for a time. Good, but becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 17 Sep until 1800 UTC on Thursday 17 Sep: South or southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in the far west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 3 to 4, backing west to southwest 4 to 5 by midnight, locally 6 from dawn, veering northwest by early afternoon. Slight to moderate with a low swell, increasing moderate to rather rough later. Isolated showers, then rain developing overnight, locally heavy from late morning, clearing by mid-afternoon. Good, locally moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 4 to 5, decreasing 3 to 4 by midday, backing west to southwest 4 to 5 later, perhaps locally 6. Slight to moderate, occasionally rather rough at first and again later. Risk of isolated showers. Good, perhaps moderate at times.