Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A complex area of low pressure will move northeastwards across the United Kingdom during Tuesday night and Wednesday, bringing gales or severe gales to southern and western waters for a time. There will be some heavy bursts of rain, which will also be accompanied by very gusty conditions for a time across southern areas.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, then veering westerly later. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough until later except in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain at first in east, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast becoming cyclonic, then west or southwest later, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 or 4 later. Rough at first near Rattray Head, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 to 6 veering southwest 3 to 5, then northwest 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough. Fair, then rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 or 6 backing west 3 or 4, then south 2 to 4 later. Moderate becoming slight. Rain then mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 to 6 veering southwest 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough at first in north, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain, but becoming fair for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, then backing southwest 4 or 5, backing south 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Rain at times, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly, veering southwesterly for a time, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic mainly southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in east. Rain or showers, perhaps squally for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east, becoming smooth or slight later. Rain or showers, perhaps squally at first. Good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 backing southerly 5 to 7, veering westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later. Rain or showers, becoming squally. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers, squally at first and perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West, backing south for a time at first, 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later. Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough, then becoming moderate later in west. Rain or showers, becoming squally. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing south or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers, squally at first and perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic then northwest 7 to severe gale 9, backing west 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in east but rough or very rough in west. Rain or showers, becoming squally. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing south later and decreasing 3 for a time. Mainly moderate or rough, but rough or very rough in far west. Rain or showers, squally at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic then northwest 7 to severe gale 9, backing west 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later. Rain or showers, becoming squally. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing southeast later and decreasing 3 for a time. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east. Rain or showers, squally at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5 veering northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough. Occasional rain, then showers later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, backing southeast later, 3 to 5. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain or showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

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

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic mainly southeast 3 to 5, becoming northwest 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later, occasionally rough later in south. Rain, but becoming fair for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 or 6 backing west or southwest 3 or 4, then backing southeast later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate until later.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in east, veering northwesterly 5 to 7 later, then backing westerly 4 to 6 later. Slight, becoming moderate later, then occasionally rough for a time later in south. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6 decreasing 3 or 4, then backing southeast later. Moderate becoming slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5 veering northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough throughout in far north, but elsewhere slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Rain at times, then showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5 backing southwest 3 or 4, then backing south or southeast later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight except in far north. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic mainly southeasterly 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later, then backing westerly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight until later except near the Mull of Kintyre, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain at times, then showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 4 or 5 backing southwesterly 3 or 4, then backing southerly or southeasterly later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate until later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then northwest 5 to 7 later, then backing west 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Rain at times, then showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest, then south or southeast later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight just north and east of Skye. Rain at times, then showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 3 to 5. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight just north and east of Skye. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate near Sutherland, but elsewhere moderate or rough. Rain at times, then showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 3 to 5. Moderate or rough to the west of the Outer Hebrides and near Cape Wrath, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 5 to 7. Moderate or rough in northwest, but elsewhere rough or very rough. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Tuesday 20 Oct 2026 at 1800 UTC until Wednesday 21 Oct 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Low pressure approaches the west, maintaining a strong southeasterly flow across Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southeast 5 to 7 Rough or very rough Showers or rain Good, occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Wednesday 21 Oct until 1800 UTC on Wednesday 21 Oct: Southeast 6 or 7 Rough, but occasionally very rough at first Showers Good, occasionally moderate

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 5, backing south 5 to 6, locally 7 by midnight, veering west to northwest 7 to 8 by dawn, with gusts to 50kt near showers, decreasing 6 to 7 later. Slight locally moderate with a low swell, increasing rough to very rough by dawn tomorrow. Isolated showers, then rain spreading in from the west by late evening, locally heavy at times, clearing to scattered squally showers by dawn. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 6 to 7, decreasing 5 to 6 for a time in the evening, backing southwest by midnight, decreasing 5 to 6 again by late-morning Thursday for a time. Rather rough to rough, decreasing moderate to rough. Scattered squally showers, merging into widespread rain for a time around dawn Thursday. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.