Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Most of the United Kingdom will lie in a slack airflow, with mostly light or moderate winds and some 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 far northwest.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Showers, wintry in far north. Good, occasionally poor in north, moderate in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6. Smooth or slight at first in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, but smooth at first in Firth of Forth. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in northeast. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 4 to 6, veering northeast 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

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

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6, veering northeast later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in southeast. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in southeast. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in west. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate at first in east. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

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

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5 for a time. 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, occasionally moderate at first west of Lands End. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: North, veering east or northeast later, 3 to 5, but becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming 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 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Northwest, veering east or northeast, 3 to 5, 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. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: North or northwest, veering east or northeast, 3 to 5, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight occasionally moderate later. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 2 to 4, veering south or southeast 4 or 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight occasionally moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: North veering east or southeast, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate at first in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

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

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 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: North or northeast 3 to 5, veering south 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in east. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in east, occasionally rough later in northwest. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in far south. Smooth or slight in central areas, moderate near entrances. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Smooth or slight at first in central areas, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far north. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 4 to 6 later. Moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing west 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough at first in north and west, otherwise moderate, but slight to the southeast. Showers, wintry until later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Tuesday 05 May 2026 at 1200 UTC until Wednesday 06 May 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: A cold and showery northwesterly flow covers Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Northwest 4 or 5. Moderate or rough, but slight just southeast of shetland. Showers, occasionally wintry Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Wednesday 06 May until 1200 UTC on Wednesday 06 May: Northwest 4 or 5 becoming west or southwest 3 or 4. 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 north east 3 to 4, occasionally 5 in the south of the area, backing north to northwest by dusk, veering northeast overnight. Smooth or slight. Rain in the south of the area, soon clearing isolated showers developing, perhaps locally heavy later. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 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 later.