Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure will lie across England and Wales, maintaining settled conditions with generally light or moderate breezes in most areas. However, a strong west or southwesterly flow will maintain across northern waters bringing rain, showers and gales at times.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, backing southerly 5 to 7 later. To the west and north of Orkney, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, wintry in north, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 5 to 7, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. To the west and north of Orkney, rough or very rough, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly y 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Rattray Head. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, but northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 at first in west. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Fair. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

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

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Occasional rain later. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain later. Moderate or good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then south 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then south or southwest 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good good, occasionally moderate or poor .

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then south 4 to 6 later. In far north, moderate or rough, but elsewhere smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest veering west later, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in far north, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest, veering westerly 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east. Occasional rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far north, decreasing 3 to 5 later, backing southerly 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers, occasionally wintry, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near entrances. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far north, decreasing 3 to 5 later, backing southerly 6 to gale 8 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high west of the Outer Hebrides and also in north. Showers, occasionally wintry, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later, backing south 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough in shelter to the east of Shetland, otherwise very rough or high. Showers, perhaps wintry, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Sunday 22 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC until Monday 23 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: A deep low will track close to Iceland and move into the Norwegian Sea during Sunday. A weak ridge of high pressure will then build across Shetland waters for a time on Monday.

Forecast: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later Very rough or high, but moderate or rough to the east of shetland. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Monday 23 Mar until 1800 UTC on Monday 23 Mar: West or southwest 4 to 6 backing south 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough, but moderate at first east of shetland. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northeast to north 1 to 3, locally 4 at first, becoming variable or northeast, backing mainly northwest later. Smooth or slight with a low swell. Fair local mist patches near french coasts early Monday. Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable or northwest 1 to 3 becoming southwest 3 to 4 overnight, increasing 5 to 6 in the northwest later. Smooth with a low swell, becoming slight. Fair. Good.